THE Marine Casualty Investigation Board is due to conduct an inquiry into the drowning of two fishermen off the north Connemara coast early yesterday.
The bodies of the men, who have been named locally as Tony Coohill and Féichín Mulkerrin, were recovered during an extensive air and sea search off north Galway yesterday evening.
Mr Coohill, who was in his 30s, was married with two children. Mr Mulkerrin (58) was a father and grandfather.
Both were from the Claddaghduff area. Both had also previously lost brothers at sea.
The men set out in a motorised currach from Aughris pier beyond Claddaghduff at about 8.30am to check on lobster pots.
The alarm was raised at about 11.15am when a local fisherman spotted the currach on rocks west of Omey island. Weather conditions were good at the time with a force three northwesterly wind and good visibility.
It could not be confirmed if the men were wearing lifejackets. No distress call was received ashore.
A 1½m (5ft) swell was running close to the coastline, and it is believed that the currach may have been hit by an unexpected swell.
Malin Head Coast Guard alerted the RNLI Clifden all-weather and inshore lifeboats, Achill all-weather lifeboat, the Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Shannon, and Cleggan Coast Guard shore site team. The Air Corps Casa maritime patrol aircraft also responded to the alert.
Up to 15 local boats and local divers offered to help, and the Naval Service diving team was tasked for the search.
The Shannon helicopter, which had been on a training run in the area, returned to base to refuel and was relieved by the Sligo Sikorsky helicopter at about 2pm.
The first body was found by a rigid inflatable at about 2.15pm southwest of Omey island, and was taken on board one of the lifeboats with the assistance of the helicopter team.
The second body was found close to Omey just three hours later by divers and the Achill lifeboat. The bodies were taken ashore to Clifden, and from there to University College Hospital Galway for postmortems.
Fisherman John Wallace, who was with families of the men at Aughris pier, said the community was “very shocked”.
“There are only about 250 people in Claddaghduff and pretty much everyone is involved in fishing,” he said.
“It was a terrible loss for the families and everyone in the area knew each other,” he added.
Fr Tony Neville of Star of the Sea Church in Claddaghduff echoed those views last night and said that it was “hard to believe” it could have happened.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the men,” he said.
It is understood that Paddy and Teresa Coohill, parents of Tony Coohill, have already lost three sons in recent years. One son died in a drowning accident in Donegal, and two died of natural causes – the most recent death occurring in England last November.
A brother of Féichin Mulkerrin was also drowned in an accident in Galway Docks over 20 years ago.
Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen has extended his “sincere sympathies” to the families. Mr Killeen, who was due to resign with fellow Ministers of State last night at the Taoiseach’s request, said that it was an “appalling tragedy” and his thoughts were with the relatives of the men.
