Our rescue crews need State help

CAITRIONA Lucas was a true hero and dedicated her life to helping others.

The day she died, searching for the body of a man off cliffs in Co Clare in raging seas, was a day Ireland shed a tear for its rescue services.

And it is with anger we must look at the Marine Casualty Investigation Board’s report.

It found a catalogue of failures by those who are tasked to limit the risk inherent in operations.

Investigators highlighted “no effective management system in place with no oversight” and said Caitriona’s vessel was not even properly licensed.

The report declared: “The IRCG does not have an effective Safety Management System as demonstrated by recent incidents and the resulting recommendations which remain outstanding.”

Yet again we can see the “Ah, it’ll be grand” ethos in State institutions.

There are always the tribunals and inquiries in the aftermath of tragedies and the handwringing politicians declaring their adoration for our emergency services.

But yet nothing ever changes and a scapegoat on the bottom rung of the ladder is blamed – that is how this country’s leaders work.

Our critical services have been decimated and their protections forgotten – our heroes are lions led by donkeys.