Relatives to receive second draft of report into Wexford boat tragedy

Relatives of the five people who died on the Pisces angling vessel sinking last July are to be given a second chance to review the official investigation's report.

The report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was due to have been published this month, in line with a commitment to publish all such reports within nine months of a marine accident.

However, a draft given last November to the relatives of the five who died elicited such a volume of submissions and comments that a second version has now been prepared.

After the first draft was given to relatives, the MCIB wrote to newspapers warning that the draft was confidential, and publication of any portion of it would constitute an offence under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000. The MCIB stressed yesterday the investigation had not been reopened.

"We are giving the relatives a second chance to review the findings, in the light of the submissions received and the editing and amendments we have made," an MCIB spokesman said.

The relatives are expected to receive the second copy this week, and will be given 28 days to respond. The MCIB says it hopes to publish the final report, which will also have been subject to legal advice, next month. However, this depends on the response to the second draft, the spokesman added. The MCIB was established last year by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, and is chaired by barrister, Mr John G. O'Donnell.

Four men and one teenage boy drowned and five were saved when the angling vessel sank off Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford, on July 28th last year.

Those who died included three generations of the same family - a New Ross undertaker, Mr James Cooney; his son-in-law, Mr Seamus Doyle; and his grandson, Mark Doyle; along with two family friends, Mr Martin Roche and Mr Mr John Cullen.

The survivors included the vessel's skipper.

None of those who died was wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids.

A separate Garda investigation resulted in a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.