Courage of seaman to be honoured at Naval base

The first Naval Service seaman to die on duty at sea is to be honoured this week when a £3 million galley and dining complex is named after him by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.

A plaque commemorating the death of Leading-Seaman Michael Quinn DSM will be unveiled by Mr Smith in the new complex at the Naval Base at Haulbowline on Friday. Leading-Seaman Quinn died while responding to a distress call from a Spanish fishing vessel, Neustra Senora de Gardotza, which had gone aground with 17 crew on board in a force eight gale in Bantry Bay in January, 1990.

The 27-year-old seaman, who was posthumously decorated by the Spanish government for his efforts, had volunteered to cox swain a gemini inflatable craft which was launched from the LE Deirdre to locate the vessel.

The 103-ft Spanish vessel, which was on the UK register and had been detained six times by the Naval Service for alleged fishery offences, had put to sea in the face of a gale warning and had run into trouble on rocks close to Roancarrigbeg, east of Bere Island. It gave an incorrect position when it made its first Mayday call. It was the fourth Spanish vessel to run aground in the bay during that fortnight.

Leading-Seaman Quinn, originally from Drogheda, Co Louth, was accompanied by Able Seaman Paul Kellett (20) from Kilbarrack, Dublin. Though both were experienced and were wearing life jackets and flotation suits, the weather conditions were such that the inflatable capsized and threw both crew into the sea.

Able Seaman Kellett was washed ashore, battered and bruised, and made his way across fields to raise the alarm. His fellow crewman was not seen alive again; his body was recovered by the Air Corps the following morning. The crew of the fishing vessel was rescued by an RAF helicopter.

The courage of both was recognised by the Irish and Spanish governments. The king of Spain decreed that the Spanish Cross of Naval Merit be awarded to them, and the presentations were made by the Spanish ambassador to Ireland in November 1990. Subsequently, Mr John Wilson, then Tan aiste and Minister for Defence, awarded both a Distinguished Service Medal (with merit).

The new galley and dining complex at Haulbowline has a circular design and has been described as a "functional yet visually pleasing landmark building in the Naval base" by its architect, Comdt Dave McGonnell. Construction work began in October 1997 and it was finished on February 2nd, "within budget and time", at a cost of £2.9 million.