Four fisheries officers who drowned 20 years ago this month while on patrol were remembered yesterday with the unveiling of a memorial at the Port of Cork terminal in Ringaskiddy, writes Olivia Kelleher.
On July 7th, 1990, four officers from the South- Western Fisheries Board lost their lives after their vessel got into difficulties while on salmon patrol duty.
Barra O Longaigh, Barry O’Driscoll, Benno Haussmann and Dominic Meehan perished after they set out from Ringaskiddy in a 15-foot launch, the Setanta, bound for Ballycotton. Michael Fanning (26) was also on board but he survived the tragedy.
The men ranged in age from 28 to 55 and were from Cork city and county.
An 11-foot bronze statue of a boat on a wave created by artist Vincent O’Shea was unveiled in Ringaskiddy yesterday.