Coast Guard slammed over Caitriona death
Report reveals search mission safety failings
AN accident report into the death of a Coast Guard hero slammed the organisation’s safety failings yesterday.
Volunteer Caitriona Lucas, 41, lost her life while on a search operation for a missing man in the sea off cliffs near Kilkee, Co Clare, on September 12, 2016.
She was on board a rigid inflatable boat with two other staff when it overturned throwing them into the water.
A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board said the RIB entered a cove near Bishop’s Island after earlier facing tough tides.
As it was travelling slowly 20m from the shoreline and preparing to leave the area, the crew became aware of a large breaking wave but had no time to avoid it.
The Delta RIB capsized and all three volunteers were thrown overboard. One member made a Mayday call to the Kilkee base which relayed the distress message to MRSC Valentia.
The report found: “One crew member was rescued by a privately owned RIB.
“The CGU search and rescue helicopters R115 and R117 rescued the other two crew members, one of whom died. The vessel was broken up by the surf at the base of the cliff.”
Caitriona, from Liscannor, Co Clare, was winched out of the
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sea but later died in hospital. The report found significant problems with planning and criticised the Irish National Search and Rescue Framework.
It said the document does not “provide adequate clarity as to when a search and rescue operation becomes a search and recovery operation or at any of the intermediate stages.”
The report also found the tasks of the cliff search teams were “not adequately considered”. It also slammed coastguard bosses at Kilkee station.
The report found: “There was no evidence of any effective management system in place with associated oversight to ensure that it met these criteria before the operation was tasked.”
The roles of the crew onboard the RIB were “not adequately set out and the vessel was not properly licensed” . The study also found “serious deficiencies” with the boat’s communication and navigation equipment. In damning conclusions, the MCIB said: “The IRCG does not have an effective Safety Management System as demonstrated by recent incidents and the resulting recommendations which remain outstanding.”
Minister Shane Ross, who has responsibility for Coast Guard operations, extended his sympathy to the victim’s family.
He said: “Caitriona Lucas was an extraordinary woman – brave, committed, supremely generous – and her death was an appalling tragedy.
“Her life will be remembered by the actions of all those involved in search and rescue activities. I know the Irish Coast Guard including its 900 volunteers are committed to honouring her memory. We will ensure volunteer safety remains at the heart of search and rescue operations”.
Caitriona Lucas was brave and generous and her death was an appalling tragedy MINISTER SHANE ROSS