The body of the Canadian naval officer who died of the effects of smoke inhalation on board a disabled Canadian submarine last week was bade a poignant farewell at Dublin Airport yesterday.
Lieut Chris Saunders (32), died aboard the HMCS Chicoutimi last week after a fire had broken out on board about 100 miles west-north-west of Arranmore Island, Co Donegal.
Though barely audible over the running engines of the waiting large Canadian A310 jet, a brief ecumenical service was held on the runway of the airport. Presbyterian Padre Bonnie Mason, who travelled from Canada, and a Roman Catholic priest said the Lord's Prayer, a welcoming prayer and gave a reading from the scriptures. The 50 or so people gathered for the ceremony bowed their heads quietly. The casket of Lieut Saunders was draped in the red and white maple-leaf flag of Canada.
Sixteen Canadian officers of equivalent rank to Lieut Saunders took part in the ceremony, eight of who acted as pall-bearers. Among these were colleagues who had trained with him.
After the service, Petty Officer and piper Tom Hoyne led the casket the short distance to the awaiting Canadian A310 Polaris, playing a lament.
The casket was slowly raised to the empty cargo hold for the five hour journey home, to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Canadian ambassador, Mr Mark Moher was in attendance, as was the British Military Attache in Dublin, Col Paul Cummings, the American Military Attache in Dublin Col John O'Sullivan, Flag Officer of the Irish Navy, Commodore Frank Lynam, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieut General Jim Sreenan, and Asst Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.
Speaking later Mr Moher said the support, kindness and good will he and his colleagues had had throughout the past week "from the Garda, the Defence Forces, Sligo General Hospital, the doctors, the State pathologist and the airport staff has been second to none"
He said it was a tragic time for Lieut Saunders' family and for Canada, where he said the nation had been following the past week's events closely.
The two submarine crewmen still being treated in Sligo General Hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation are expected to be released this week.
Meanwhile, a week after it left the Royal Navy submarine base in Faslane, Scotland, the HMCS Chicoutimi was towed back up the Clyde yesterday afternoon.
The convoy involved in the tow of the disabled submarine left Irish waters shortly before midnight on Saturday.
The LE Aoife which had been accompanying it on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard, left it north of the Foyle and returned to fishery patrol duties in the Irish Sea.
The fire on the submarine has triggered serious questions in Canada about the state of the vessel when it and three others were sold to Canada by Britain.
The British Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, who plans to meet his Canadian counterpart today, insisted yesterday that all four vessels had been brought up to Royal Navy standards.
"They had undergone rigorous trials and tests and, indeed, Canada has had the opportunity, over very many years, of surveying the boats and obviously has been in negotiation with the United Kingdom during that period," he said.