This article is from page 2 of the 2013-08-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A JURY has returned verdicts of accidental death at the inquests of two men who drowned off the West Clare coast last year.
64-year-old Skipper Michael Galvin and his 35-year-old neighbour Noel Dickinson drowned when their boat, the Lady Eileen, sank off the coast of Quilty last August. Their disappearance sparked a massive search that at one stage involved around 20 boats various search and rescue services.
Inquests into the men’s deaths were held at Clare County Coroner’s Court on Wednesday. They heard that Liz Galvin was the last person to see her husband and Mr Dickinson alive be- fore they left for sea.
In her draft deposition read in court, Ms Galvin stated it was not unusual for the men to spend a long day working at sea.
Martin Kiely of Aughinish Diving Club and James McMahon of Burren Sub Aqua Club told the inquest they found the bodies of the men in the wheelhouse of the Lady Eileen.
The inquest heard that the men had been part of a dive team searching the water off Breaffa South. The bodies of the men, who both lived at Seaview Park, were taken ashore at Seafield Pier, Quilty, on August 14. Death was pronounced by Dr Billy O’Connell.
Both men were fishermen but the inquest heard that Mr Dickinson also worked as a chef. Autopsies were performed at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.
Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy told the inquest that blood analysis revealed a negative or zero reading for ethanol in both men.
Dr Mulcahy said that in her opinion, death was due to drowning.
County Coroner Isobel O’Dea suggested to the jury that the appropriate verdict to return was one of either accidental death or death by misadventure.
After declining an offer to retire to consider their decision, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of accidental death with drowning as the cause of death. Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to both families on the tragic losses of Michael Galvin and Noel Dickinson. She also paid tribute to the rescue services who assisted in the search.
Ms O’Dea noted the findings of the official Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report, which found that the Lady Eileen probably encountered wind or wave action on the day it sank. Ms O’Dea noted the weather had been particularly bad at the time.
She said she was conscious that the first anniversary of the men’s death would be marked this week.
Inspector Michael Gallagher expressed sympathy on behalf of the gardaí.
Family members were present in court for the inquests.