Coroner warns of dangers of fishing off Valentia rocks

A coroner yesterday warned about the dangers of fishing off wave-swept rocks on Valentia Island, and said maps needed to highlight…

A coroner yesterday warned about the dangers of fishing off wave-swept rocks on Valentia Island, and said maps needed to highlight the issue.

Several anglers had lost their lives there, Terence Casey, coroner for Kerry South, said at a sitting of his court in Cahersiveen. He said tourist information should also carry warnings.

The inquest into the death of 32-year-old Kilkenny man Christopher Murphy, of Liss, Tullaroan, heard how his friends formed a human chain in a desperate effort to rescue him after seeing him suddenly slip from the rocks into the sea at the northern corner of the island at Culloo.

Mr Murphy had been with a party of seven others. They had arrived on Valentia from Kilkenny on July 26th and were spread out along the area fishing. A number saw Mr Murphy slip from the steep rocks and fall into the sea below.

The inquest heard how they had made desperate rescue efforts using fishing rods and other equipment but Mr Murphy was swept out by the waves.

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