Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ice-like slipway saw 10 cars go into water at drowning site
THE inquest’s first witness told how before the Buncrana pier tragedy as many 10 cars had ended up in the water due to the slippery surface.
Francis Crawford said local people knew the algae on the slipway was problematic, describing it as “slippery as ice”.
In evidence outside of his written statement to gardai, he told the hearing that in the previous incidents all the other cars occupants had managed to escape uninjured.
Mr Crawford also told how he heard children scream for help minutes before the car driven by Sean Mcgrotty sank in Lough Swilly.
He said the tragic father screamed to him: “Call the Coastguard, call the Coastguard.”
His evidence outlined how he saw the Audi Q7 with its driver’s window down and Mr Mcgrotty shouting for help as the vehicle moved from the slipway and out into the lough.
DISTRESS
He said he could “hear the children roaring and crying”.
The inquest was told he rang 999 and got through to the Coastguard.
The hearing then was told how a man and woman arrived at the scene, one of whom was Davitt Walsh and the other his girlfriend.
Mr Crawford pleaded with Mr
Walsh to help, asking him if he could swim. The hero then stripped down to his boxer shorts before entering the water.
He returned with baby Rioghnach-ann who was handed to his girlfriend who tried to warm the baby up.
Mr Crawford’s wife told how the baby’s hair was dry.
The inquest also heard no one had witnessed the Audi actually going into the lough.
However, witnesses described seeing it with the water still below the windowsills – but sinking just minutes later.
Under cross-examination from a barrister, a Garda sergeant said there was no one challenging Mr Crawford’s assertion regarding the previous incidents at the Buncrana slipway.