THE GARDA investigation into the sinking of the boat of a Mayo fisherman opposed to the Corrib gas pipeline found no evidence of any third-party involvement, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has told Galway City Council.
Pat O’Donnell, the owner of the 12-metre Iona Isle vessel, claimed the boat was boarded by armed men and deliberately sunk.
He said it was an “act of terrorism”. Some locals opposed to the pipeline suggested the alleged sinking had been carried out because of Mr O’Donnell’s opposition to the Corrib gas project.
Shell EP Ireland issued a statement at the time rejecting any suggestion it was behind the hijacking and sinking outlined in Mr O’Donnell’s account.
The incident, in June 2009, was one of the most contentious events linked to the Shell to Sea campaign in Co Mayo.
Gardaí investigated the incident at the time and sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed no charges be pursued.
It has now emerged that no evidence could be found to suggest there was any third-party involvement in the sinking of Mr O’Donnell’s boat.
Galway City Council discussed a motion a number of months ago calling for the Garda and Mr Ahern to launch a public inquiry into the circumstances of the sinking as set out by Mr O’Donnell. Correspondence was sent to Mr Ahern’s office seeking an inquiry.
In his reply to the council, Mr Ahern sets out clearly that a Garda investigation had already been conducted into the case.
Mr Ahern’s reply to an official at Galway City Council, which has been seen by The Irish Times, notes that a file arising from the Garda investigation had been sent to the DPP.
“The investigation concluded, however, that there was no evidence of third-party involvement in the sinking of the Iona Isle and the law officers have directed no prosecution.”
While it has been known for some time there would be no prosecution, Mr Ahern’s reply to Galway City Council represents the first time that either he or the Garda has said no evidence of any third-party involvement in the alleged deliberate sinking was found.
Mr O’Donnell had claimed his boat was boarded by four men in diving suits at about 4am on June 11th, 2009, off Erris Head, Co Mayo. He claimed some of the men were armed and held him and his crewman Martin McDonnell at gunpoint.
“We were held in the wheelhouse, while two of them went below,” he said at the time.
“They were down there about 20 minutes and then came back up to the wheelhouse for what seemed like over an hour. When the engine cut out, they left on a rib [rigid inflatable boat].
“I went down below to the engine room and it was flooding. I told Martin to put on his life jacket and I got the life raft off the wheelhouse.”
He rang the Garda from the vessel to report the sinking and was then quickly rescued by his son, who happened to be close by on a second vessel also owned by Pat O’Donnell.
