An accident at sea six years ago in which a trawlerman fell overboard and drowned was recalled yesterday in the High Court in Cork.
An application for an adjournment in the case being taken by the man's widow, Mrs Mairead Cronin, of West End Park, Castletownbere, Co Cork, against the skipper and owner of the trawler Caareen, Mr John D. O'Sullivan, of Derrymihan West, Castletownbere, was refused by Mr Justice Robert Barr.
Mr Liam Gaynor SC, for Mr O'Sullivan, said his client had lost £25,000 by being in court all week and would continue to lose money during the busy fishing season if he had to remain in court waiting for the case to be heard.
Mr Michael Gleeson SC opposed the application, stating that the case was very traumatic for Mrs Cronin and should proceed.
Mr John Cronin was a fisherman employed by Mr O'Sullivan. He fell overboard while the trawler was fishing off Perch Rock, Castletownbere, on June 17th, 1992.
A month later, a trawler, the Copanes, while fishing 56 miles off Castletownbere, retrieved a human skull, which was later identified as being Mr Cronin's.
It is expected that the case will get under way next week. Mr Gaynor indicated that there would be a full defence.