The disabled Canadian submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, was still under tow west of the Donegal coastline last night on its three- day journey back to Scotland.
The Naval Service patrol ship, LE Aoife, will continue to escort the convoy through Irish waters and is expected to hand over responsibility for this to the British military authorities when the submarine is east of the Foyle.
"If weather holds, we expect this to take place early on Sunday and the submarine should reach the Clyde in Scotland by Monday morning," the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher, said last night.
Mr Gallagher is expected to represent the Government at a military ceremony in Dublin airport tomorrow when the body of Lieut Chris Saunders (32), the Canadian officer who died from the effects of smoke inhalation on board the submarine, will be flown home to Canada. Thirty Naval Service personnel and eight officers of equivalent rank to Lieut Saunders will participate in the ceremony, which will also be attended by the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Mark Moher.
Lieut Saunders's colleagues, Master Seaman Archibald MacMaster (41) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Denis Lafleur (41), were described as "critical but stable and improving" and "stable" in Sligo General Hospital yesterday.
A number of the remaining 54 crew on board the submarine, and four Royal Navy personnel were transferred to the Royal Navy ship HMS Monarch yesterday. Lieut-Cdr Peter Twomey on the LE Aoife said this was to allow them some relief. Six of the submariners who were also recovering from smoke inhalation were said to be in good condition.
