MINISTER FOR Defence Willie O'Dea has expressed the State's "deepest sympathy and sincere regret" at the loss of the four Air Corps airmen who died while returning from a rescue mission off Tramore, Co Waterford, in July, 1999.
Mr O'Dea, who issued the apology on behalf of the Government and the Defence Forces, also said the State regretted deeply the length of time it had taken to acknowledge the men's actions.
Mr O'Dea was speaking at a ceremony in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, west Dublin yesterday, where he awarded distinguished service medals (DSMs) to the relatives of the four men - Capt Dave O'Flaherty, Capt Michael Baker, Sgt Patrick Mooney and Cpl Niall Byrne.
The parents of one of the four, the late Capt Michael Baker, did not attend. His father Tony Baker said that he believed the awards should have been issued much earlier. He has also called for the re-opening of the military court of inquiry into the crash.
Mr O'Dea told journalists that he believed a "breakdown in communication" had contributed to a delay in awarding the DSMs to the four men. The four died when their Dauphin helicopter collided in thick fog with a sand dune. The crash was the worst accident in Air Corps history.
The crew had responded to a mayday call in relation to a boat in difficulty off the southeast in poor visibility. "Having located the vessel and confirmed that the lifeboat had reached it, the crew were requested to remain on station as the lifeboat global positioning system (GPS) had become unreliable," Mr O'Dea continued.
Mr O'Dea quoted from a recently appointed military board, which found that the men displayed "outstanding qualities of bravery and devotion to duty".
Paying tribute to the relatives, Mr O'Dea said he hoped that separate arrangements could be made to present the DSM to Mr and Mrs Tony and Mary Baker.
The late Capt Dave O'Flaherty's eight-year-old daughter, Davina, accepted the medal, accompanied by her mother Maria. Mrs Monica Mooney and Mr Vincent and Mrs Anna Byrne also accepted the awards for Sgt Paddy Mooney and Cpl Niall Byrne.
Capt Baker's family was represented by his sister Antoinette, and Capt Baker's former partner Siobhan Dunne, and her son Aengus. Speaking to The Irish Timesfrom his home in Co Wexford, Tony Baker said that they might accept the medal from "another Minister at another time", but did not believe Mr O'Dea's version of events in relation to the delay.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Byrne said that he accepted the Minister's apology and bore "no ill will".