asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how many merchant ships, flying the Irish flag, were (a) lost, or (b) damaged, by action, known or presumed, of any of the belligerents in the late war; the names of such ships; whether outward or inward bound when the incident occurred; the approximate date and location of the occurrence in each case; the number of lives lost; the occasion of the loss or damage, whether by torpedo, mine, aerial bomb or shell fire; which belligerent was involved, if ascertained; and whether in each case the loss or damage was admitted by such belligerent and compensation promised or paid.
Written Answers. - Damage to Merchant Ships.
The information requested, as far as it is available, is given in the following tables:—
STATEMENT No. 1.
IRISH SHIPS DAMAGED BY ACTION, KNOWN OR PRESUMED, OF ANY OF THE BELLIGERENTS DURING THE WAR OF 1939-45.
SHIP |
Outward or Inward Bound |
Date |
Location |
Lives Lost |
Cause of Damage |
Belligerent |
Claim made and result |
1. S.S.“KERRY HEAD” |
Inward to Limerick from Swansea. |
1/8/40 |
Off Kinsale |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
Responsibility admitted by German Government and compensation paid |
2. M.V.“LOCH RYAN” |
Inward to Arklow from Falmouth, Cornwall. |
16/8/40 |
West Coast of Cornwall. |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
Facts admitted by German Government but liability disclaimed on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. Al. rights to compensation reserved. |
3. S.S. “KOSMOS” |
Fishing |
27/9/40 |
North of Scotland |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
4. M.V.“EDENVALE” |
Inward to Dublin from Limerick. |
17/10/40 |
Coast of Waterford |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
German Government disclaimed knowledge. All rights to compensation reserved. |
5. S.S.“LANAHRONE” |
At anchor |
20/12/40 |
Liverpool |
None |
Masonry blown on ship during airraid. |
Presumed German |
No claim as damage caused by airraid on Mersey area. |
6. S.S.“MENAPIA” |
Inward to Cork from Cardiff. |
27/2/41 |
Bristol Channel |
None |
Mine |
Not known |
No claim made |
7. S.S.“GLENCREE” |
Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan. |
21/3/41 |
Bristol Channel |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
German Government disclaimed liability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved. |
8. S.S.“GLENCULIEN” |
Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan. |
21/3/41 |
Bristol Channel |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
9. S.S.“THE LADY BELLE” |
Outward from Dungarvan to Cardiff. |
26/3/41 |
Bristol Channel |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
10. M.V.“EDENVALE” |
Inward to Rosslare from Cardiff. |
27/3/41 |
Welsh Coast |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
11. M.V.“DUNDALK” |
At anchor |
5/5/41 |
River Mersey |
None |
Air-raid on Mersey area. |
Presumed German |
No claim as damaged caused by airraid on Mersey area. |
12. S.S.“MENAPIA” |
Inward to Rosslare from Port Talbot, Glamorgan. |
12/5/41 |
Welsh Coast |
None |
Aerial attack |
Not known |
No claim made |
13. S.S. “ASSAROE” |
Outward from Dublin to Douglas, I.O.M. |
15/5/41 |
Off Howth |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
German Government disclaimed knowledge and liability, stating that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved. |
14. S.S. “GLENAGEARY” |
Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan. |
17/5/41 |
Welsh Coast |
None |
Aerial attack |
Not known |
No claim made. |
15. S.S. “CITY OF WATERFORD” |
Outward from Dublin to Cardiff |
19/5/41 |
Bristol Channel |
None |
Aerial attack |
German sumed German |
German Government disclaimed ledge and liability. |
16. S.S. “KYLECLARE” |
Outward from Limerick to Liverpool |
30/5/41 |
Coast of Waterford |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
German Government disclaimed ability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved. |
17. M.V.“KERLOGUE” |
Inward to Wexford from Swansea. |
7/10/41 |
cardigan Bay |
None |
Mine |
Not known |
No claim made. |
18. M.V. “EDENVALE” |
Outward from Cardiff to Lisbon. |
16/10/41 |
Coast of Cork |
None |
Aerial attack |
Presumed German. |
German Government disclaimed know ledge. All rights to compensation reserved. |
19. S.S. “GLENAGEARY” |
Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan. |
25/10/41 |
Off Arklow |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
20. S.S. “MARGARET LOCKINGTON.” |
Outward from Newry to Swansea. |
26/10/41 |
Coast of Waterford |
None |
Aerial attack |
Not known |
No claim made. |
21. S.S. “LANAHRONE” |
Inward to Dublin from Vigo, Spain. |
29/10/41 |
Off Saltee Islands |
None |
Aerial attack |
Not known |
No claim made. |
22. S.S. “GLENCREE” |
Inward to Dublin from Newport, Mon. |
5/11/41 |
Welsh Coast |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
German Government disclaimed knowledge. All rights to compensation reserved. |
23. S.S. “GLENCULLEN” |
Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan. |
5/11/41 |
Welsh Coast |
None |
Aerial attack |
German |
do. |
24. M.V. “KERLOGUE” |
Outward from Rosslare to Oporto. |
23/10/43 |
Coast of Cork |
None |
Aerial attack |
British |
Ex gratia compensation paid. |
STATEMENT NO. II.
IRISH SHIPS LOST BY ACTION, KNOWN OR PRESUMED, OF ANY OF THE BELLIGERENTS DURING THE WAR OF 1939-1945.
SHIP |
Outward or Inward Bound |
Date |
Location |
Lives Lost |
Cause of Loss |
Belligerent |
Claim Made and Result |
1. M.V. “MUNSTER” |
Outward from Belfast to Liverpool |
7/2/40 |
Near Liverpool |
1 as result of injuries |
Mine |
Not Known |
No claim made. Vessel was chartered to British interests and plying between Belfast and Liverpool. |
2. S.S. “LEUROS” |
Inward to Dublin from Donegal Bay. |
12/3/40 |
North Coast of Ireland |
11 |
Not known |
Not known |
No claim made. |
3. S.S. “CITY OF LIMERICK” |
Inward to Liverpool from Cartagena, Spain |
15/7/40 |
West Coast of France |
2 |
Aerial Bomb |
Doubtful, presumed German |
No claim made. Vess Cargo from Iberian to English port. |
4. S.S. “MEATH” |
Outward from Dublin to Liverpool. |
15/8/40 |
Near Holyhead |
None |
Mine |
Not known |
No claim made. |
5. S.S. “LUIMNEACH” |
Inward to Drogheda from Huelva, Spain |
4/9/40 |
Coast of Spain |
None |
Shell fire |
Presumed Italian |
Italian and other belligerent aut ties disclaimed all knowledge. |
6. S.S. “KERRY HEAD” |
Outward from Limerick to Newport, Mon |
22/10/40 |
Near Castletownbere |
12 |
Aerial bomb |
Presumed German. |
German government disclaimed ledge and liability, stating ship in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved. |
7. S.S. “ARDMORE” |
Outward from Cork to Fishguard. |
12/11/40 |
Irish Sea |
24 |
Not known |
Not known |
No claim made. |
8. S.S. “INGIDA” |
Outward from Rosslare to lightships off Wexford Coast. |
19/12/40 |
Off Wexford |
6 |
Aerial bomb |
Presumed German. |
No claim made. |
9. M.V. “INNISFALLEN” |
Inward to Dublin from Liverpool. |
21/12/40 |
River Mersey |
4 |
Mine |
Not known |
No claim made. |
10. S.S. “ST. FINTAN” |
Outward from Drogheda to Cardiff. |
22/3/41 |
Bristol Channel |
9 |
Aerial bomb |
Doubtful, presumed German. |
German Government disclaimed know ledge and liability, stating ship in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August, 1940. |
11. S.S. “CLONLARA” |
Outward from Cardiff to Lisbon. |
22/3/41 |
Coast of Spain |
11 |
Torpedo |
Presumed German. |
No claim made. Vessel sailing in British Convoy. |
12. S.S. “CITY OF BREMEN” |
Inward to Dublin from Lisbon |
2/6/42 |
Bay of Biscay |
None |
Aerial bomb |
German |
German Government admitted responsibility but declined liability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August 1940. All rights to compensation reserved. |
13. S.S.“IRISH PINE” |
Outward from Dublin to Boston. |
15/11/42 |
North American Coast. |
33 |
Not definitely established. |
Not definitely established. |
No claim made. |
14. S.S. “KYLECLARE” |
Inward to Dublin from Lisbon. |
Last heard of 20/2/43 |
Between Lisbon and Dublin |
18 |
Not known |
Not known |
No claim made. |
15. S.S. “IRISH OAK” |
Inward to Dublin from Tampa, Florida. |
15/5/43 |
North Atlantic |
None |
Torpedo |
Not definitely established. |
No claim made. |
16. M.V. “CYMRIC” |
Outward from Dublin to Lisbon. |
Last heard of 24/2/44 |
Between Dublin and Lisbon. |
11 |
Not known |
Not known |
No claim made. |
17. F.S. “NAOMH CARBHAN” |
Fishing |
3/5/45 |
Coast of Waterford |
3 |
Mine |
Not known |
No claim made. |