A jury has returned verdicts of death by misadventure at an inquest into the deaths of two Waterford men who drowned after going for a swim on their way home from watching this year's Munster hurling final.
Eoin Barry (24), Ballylenane, Dunhill, Co Waterford, and Gerard Shannon (24), Raheen, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, died from drowning after getting into difficulties while swimming at Ballynarrid, Bonmahon, last June 27th.
Mr Brendan O'Connell told the inquest in Tramore yesterday how he had met Mr Barry and Mr Shannon in a pub in Ballylenane at about 3.40 p.m. where, with Mr Shannon's brother, Des, they watched Waterford win the Munster hurling final.
Mr O'Connell said they each had about three drinks during the game and bought a naggin of whiskey and vodka to take with them. They were going to drive to Mr Barry's house when Mr Barry and Mr Shannon suggested going for a swim.
"Gerry and Eoin were talking about a jump in the sea. We stopped and walked down by the sea. They were talking about the jump. I said how were they going to get back up and Eoin said they would swim around the rocks and climb up the other side."
Mr O'Connell told how the two men discussed where to jump in and they climbed down a rocky promontory where Mr Barry stripped to the waist and Mr Shannon stripped naked before they both jumped into the sea.
"I saw them swimming and then they went out of my line of view. After a few minutes I climbed down and I saw them both, clinging to seaweed. Gerry looked in trouble and Eoin was holding his head over the water."
Mr O'Connell dialled 999 and he told the emergency services where they were before stripping himself and tying his clothes into a rope. He entered the water in an attempt to reach both men but he failed to get to them.
"Gerry went under the water and did not come back up again. Eoin left go of the seaweed and drifted out from the rocks. A wave came over him and that was the last I saw of him," said Mr O'Connell, who was rescued five minutes later by a helicopter.
The men's disappearance triggered a major search operation and two days later, on June 29th, a team of Naval Service divers recovered the bodies within 30 minutes of each other.
The jury returned verdicts of misadventure and the coroner for east Waterford, Dr Eoin Maughan, extended his deepest sympathies to the families.
