AOIFE BYRNE,
Sir, - I refer to the withdrawal of the Air Corps "Search and Rescue" service from Waterford airport, Monday 22nd last.
Almost three years of dithering by the Minister for Defence and his Department over the replacement of suitable helicopters for the Air Corps, has resulted in the withdrawal of the Air Corps from the south-east.
I found the lack of coverage of this great loss to Waterford to be very insulting. As Canadian helicopters are taking over from the Defence Forces, the public should have been made aware of this.
I personally found the lack of coverage to be disheartening, as, on July 2nd, 1999, my brother, Cpl Niall Byrne and his three comrades, Sgt Patrick Mooney, Capt Dave O'Flaherty and Capt Michael Baker, all lost their lives tragically on a search and rescue mission in Tramore. Little did they think that their sacrifice would eventually lead to the withdrawal of the Air Corps from Waterford. The silence from all concerned is indeed "deafening". - Yours, etc.,
AOIFE BYRNE, Killiney, Co Dublin.