Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 5

Written Answers. - Isle of Inismore Accident.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

108 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of the conduct and findings of any investigation into the loss of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 from the ship the Isle of Inismore on 19 September 1994; and the reason the person was not reported missing to the coastguard authorities en route to Pembroke, Wales, and was only reported the following day when the ship was back in Rosslare. [15724/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

I am advised that when it was noticed that the individual concerned was missing at about 23.15 hrs. on the evening of 19 September 1994, an initial search of the vessel was undertaken by the crew at the direction of the master. The vessel departed from Pembroke at 02.45 hrs. on 20 September, and the view on board at that stage was that the individual had gone to some area on board and fallen asleep. A second fuller and more complete search of the vessel was subsequently undertaken, which similarly proved to be unsuccessful.

Following the docking of the vessel at Rosslare the disappearance of the person was reported to the Garda in Wexford who, in turn, notified the police at Pembroke. The coastguard at Milford Haven, Wales, initiated a sea and air search at first light which was terminated later the same afternoon without success, having failed to locate the missing person.

Investigations into the disappearance of an individual in these circumstances are the exclusive responsibility of the Garda authorities, whose investigations I understand are still ongoing.