Coast Guard officers suspended and crew stood down in separate probes Wayne O’Connor
TWO senior Coast Guard officers have been suspended from the organisation after it was alleged they broke Covid-19 orders passed down during the pandemic.
Separate investigations have been launched into the alleged breaches. One relates to the launch of a Coast Guard boat in Cork during a maintenance operation after the crew were concerned about the condition of the vessel after returning from a rescue mission.
A second probe in the north-west concerns the use of a boat by personnel there, and will also examine adherence to the use of personal protective equipment.
The Sunday Independent understands at least one of the suspended officers is contesting the suspension, claiming they adhered to all necessary requirements.
It comes as a full Coast Guard crew in Co Mayo has been stood down as the organisation examines personnel issues among ranks at a number of stations across the country.
Coast Guard units were told at the beginning of April to reject any tasking where crews would come in contact with a Covid-19 patient or someone suspected of having coronavirus.
They were also told training and courses being run for Coast Guard units were being suspended during the Covid-19 crisis. However, the agency says it is still responding to emergencies.
A week after this directive was issued, a crew in Cork went to assist a person in a boat who appeared to require help after running aground. On returning from the operation, the crew allegedly became concerned their own boat had taken in mud in shallow water, requiring maintenance.
The crew said they worked on the boat when it returned to base. They later asked to be allowed to take the boat back out for a maintenance run to ensure it was in working order.
“This is typical after carrying out maintenance work,” a source told the Sunday Independent. “The crew would have wanted to make sure the work they did fixed the problem and prevented it from arising again when they are out on any future mission or in a situation where the consequences of having engine trouble could be very serious.”
Officials have been told a “triple-lock” approval was granted for the run, with it sanctioned by the boat’s coxswain, the station’s officer in charge and the on-duty mission coordination officer in Valentia Coast Guard station.
An investigation into the launching of the boat in Cork is at an advanced stage, with a number of people interviewed in relation to the incident.
A separate investigation is under way in the north-west but is at an early stage.
Two people at the centre of the investigations were placed on temporary suspension.
Officials are also liaising with volunteers who have been stood down in Co Mayo to address personnel matters there.
A spokeswoman for the Coast Guard said the organisation would not comment on individual HR cases.
“With 950 volunteers, cases do arise where individuals or units fall out,” she added.
“Coast Guard facilitate all volunteers to work together on unit cohesion, team dynamics and to work through various inter-personal differences that may arise in units.
“It should be recognised that Coast Guard units provide an excellent service to their communities and are continuing to provide support to their communities and sister organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Irish Coast Guard is very active in supporting its volunteer service throughout the country.”