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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tall Ships Race.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

64 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the outcome of the investigation into the accident in Dublin Port during the Tall Ships Race on 24 August 1998; if he has received the report; the implications of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9258/99]

Michael D'Arcy

Ceist:

89 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Defence the status of the inquiries being carried out by his Department; when each of these reports will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9275/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

126 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the outcome of the investigation into the accident in Dublin Port during the Tall Ships Race on 24 August 1998; if he has received the report; the implications of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9318/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

143 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the status of the inquiries being carried out by his Department; when each of these reports will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9335/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 89, 126 and 143 together.

I understand that the inquiries referred to by the Deputies are those relating to the accident at Dublin Port during the Tall Ships Race in August 1998, the accident at Kilworth Camp and the incident in the Glen of Imaal, both of which occurred in December 1997.

As I stated in my reply to Question No. 102 on 25 February last, following the accident at Dublin Port during the Tall Ships Race, the Naval Service instigated an investigation which is still ongoing. As this is essentially an aviation accident, an investigation is also being undertaken by the Department of Public Enterprise. The Naval Service is not in a position to finalise its investigation until the outcome of the investigation being carried out by the Department of Public Enterprise is known. The final report of that investigation is still awaited. Pending the outcome of the investigations, no further exercises of this nature will be undertaken by members of either the Naval Service or the Air Corps.

As I stated in my reply to Questions Nos. 62 and 76 on 25 February last, a court of inquiry was initiated immediately following the accident at Kilworth firing range and its report was subsequently submitted to higher military authority. The inquiry encompassed the findings of a military police investigation and a technical board of inquiry. I am advised by the military authorities that the report as submitted gave rise to additional queries which could only be addressed by the re-convening of the court of inquiry.
The court reconvened on 27 March and plans to do so again today and, if necessary, over the Easter period when it is hoped that its deliberation will be finalised. As I have indicated in my earlier reply, the outcome of the inquiry will determine if any action needs to be taken in the interests of safety. The Deputies will appreciate that courts of inquiry of this nature are intensive and wide ranging and can take some considerable time to bring to completion.
Weapons handling training on the 60mm mortar is continuing but live firing for training purposes has, however, ceased pending completion of the aforementioned investigations.
On 9 December 1997 during the course of a shoot in the Glen of Imaal involving two mortars, a misfire occurred on the firing of the sixth high explosive mortar bomb. Misfire drills were successfully carried out. As a precautionary measure, the weapons were inspected after the firing of each of the next ten rounds. As nothing unusual was reported it was decided to resume the shoot and from then on to inspect the weapons after the firing of the fifth round from each one. Another misfire occurred on the firing of the twenty fourth mortar bomb. The misfire drills were carried out but the bomb remained in the barrel. Because of declining light the ordnance officer decided to remove the bomb from the barrel the next morning and this was successfully done. Misfires are not uncommon and are provided for in the mortar training syllabus. The second misfire in this case was somewhat unusual only in that the bomb was not successfully removed from the barrel during the initial misfire drill. An ordnance officer was on site to deal with any matters arising.
Both the incident in the Glen of Imaal and that which occurred at Kilworth firing range, County Cork, occurred on the same date, namely 9 December 1997. The weapon type was the same in each case. The mortar bombs were the same type and lot number in each case. It should be noted that between 1 October 1997 and 8 December 1997, 416 mortar bombs of this lot number were fired and only one misfire was reported. As I stated earlier, a court of inquiry was established into the accident at Kilworth. The only investigation into the incident in the Glen of Imaal would have been carried out on the spot by qualified personnel to determine why the weapon misfired. There is no ongoing investigation into this misfire.
Safety procedures for military exercises are constantly reviewed and the current regulations were in place during the exercises in Kilworth and the Glen of Imaal. These regulations provide for the testing of personnel in basic skills before firing. They include safety precautions and misfire drills.
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