THE two men who died in a double drowning at the weekend in Courtmacsherry have been named as Mr Peter Cagney (70), of Castle Point, Crosshaven, Co Cork, and his friend, Mr Christopher Gibbons (66), of Herbert Park Lawn, St Luke's, Cork. They had travelled from Crosshaven on a motor cruiser for the holiday weekend.
Mr Des Bateman, secretary of the Courtmacsherry lifeboat, said both men were known in the fishing town and had previously cruised around the coast to Courtmacsherry harbour. On this occasion, they had arrived in the harbour on Sunday last, and were planning to spend the night on board the boat before returning to Crosshaven yesterday.
Having moored the vessel in the harbour at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday, the two men came ashore for a meal. They were seen returning to the motor cruiser at 10.30 p.m. and just before 11 p.m., were again seen on the deck of the vessel.
At 11.15 p.m. the body of one of the men was seen floating near the pier, and the alarm was raised. The Courtmacsherry lifeboat was launched, and within a short time the body of the second man was recovered from the sea.
One theory is that, having seen his friend stumble and fall overboard, the second man went to his assistance.