Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 5

Written Answers. - Tusker Rock Air Crash.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

66 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department, at any level, had or have any knowledge of HMS Penelope landing a large piece of wreckage including a wheel at either Milford Haven or Plymouth shortly after the Aer Lingus Viscount disaster at Tuskar Rock on 24 March 1968; if she will have the matter fully investigated; if so, if she will publish the results of her investigation; if she will take appropriate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8418/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The only report of wreckage recovered from the scene of the accident to the Aer Lingus Viscount, the St. Phelim, being landed in a UK Port was that contained in an interview with a retired Chief Petty Officer, John Giblett, who was formerly a crew member of HMS Penelope, on the recent “Prime Time” programme. He stated that wreckage material recovered by HMS Penelope was landed at Plymouth, Milford Haven or some other UK port. He did not specify where or when this material was found.

The programme makers reported that they had put this information to the British Ministry of Defence and that the latter had denied that any wreckage discovered in the search and subsequent recovery operation was removed to the UK. I am not persuaded that any further inquiries by my Department into this matter are warranted.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

67 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department, at any level, had or has knowledge of a number of armed war planes in the area on the day the Aer Lingus aircraft crashed at Tuskar Rock; if she will have the matter fully investigated; if so, if she will publish the results of her investigation; if she will take appropriate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8419/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department has no knowledge of armed or unarmed war planes in the area of Tuskar Rock on or about the time of the accident to the Aer Lingus Viscount, the St. Phelim. Later on that day, piston engined search aircraft, of the Irish Air Corps and the RAF, and also Air Corps and RAF helicopters were dispatched to the area in order to search for the missing aircraft.

Some witnesses in the area did subsequently report seeing a flying object, which the accident report indicated was unlikely to have been the Viscount, about the time of the crash. These sightings were comprehensively analysed in the 1970 report into the accident. However, the report was unable to come to a conclusion with regard to the identity or source of this flying object. Since that time, no further information has come to light which would assist in the identification of the reported object.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

68 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department, at any level, have or had any knowledge whether radar tapes, other evidence or information from 25 March 1968 existed or exist emanating from Killard Point RAF radar base near Strangford, County Down; if she will have the matter fully investigated; if so, if she will publish the results of her investigation; if she will take appropriate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8420/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The accident to the Aer Lingus Viscount, the St. Phelim, occurred on 24 March 1968. This was many years before video taping technology became available. Prior to the introduction of video equipment, there was no facility for the routine recording of radar screen information. Such recording equipment for this purpose did not come into widespread use until the mid 1980s.

Consequently, there are no tapes or similar records available from any military or civil radar systems that would assist in the investigation of the accident to the St. Phelim.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

69 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department, at any level, had or have any knowledge of a person (details supplied); the part, if any, he played in the search and salvage operations following the Aer Lingus Viscount accident off Tuskar Rock on 24 March 1968; if she will have the matter fully investigated; if so, if she will publish the results of her investigation; if she will take appropriate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8421/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department has no knowledge of any individual calling himself Andreas Rogano or of the part, if any, he played in the search and salvage operations following the Aer Lingus Viscount accident off Tuskar Rock on 24 March 1968.

If the Deputy has any knowledge of this individual that might be pertinent to the events of March 1968, I suggest that he should acquaint my officials with this information.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

70 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise which regiment of the Testing Establishment Royal Artillery was involved in surface to air missile firing at Aberporth missile range between 22 March 1968 and 25 March 1968, the weekend of the Aer Lingus Viscount accident; the type of missiles fired during that period; if she does not have this information if she will obtain it from the British authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8422/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I presume that the Deputy's question relates to references in "Prime Time" and Welsh newspapers, to a territorial army artillery unit.

My Department has no knowledge of any British Army, Air Force or Naval Unit engaged in surface-to-air missile firings at the Aberporth Range on 24 March 1968, the day of the accident to the St. Phelim. All information provided by the British authorities indicates that the Welsh ranges were closed on the day of the accident.

The status of the ranges on the day of the accident was seen as relevant to the investigation. The activity of any British military units on other days was not seen as relevant to the investigation.

In the light of all the information available to my Department, I do not propose to initiate any further inquiries with the United Kingdom authorities.