THE Department of the Marine and the gardai have begun investigations into the death of an Irish skipper and the loss of his trawler off the south west coast yesterday following a collision with a British registered Spanish vessel.
The 16 metre Exodus, with three crew on board, was trawling some 10 miles south of Dursey Point off Cork and 20 miles off Castletownbere when the accident occurred. The Spanish flagship, Sea Horse, was fishing in the area. Weather conditions were good and visibility was reported to be five to six miles.
The crew of the Sea Horse pulled the skipper of the Exodus, Mr Danny "Boy" O'Driscoll (42), from the sea after the rapid sinking, but efforts to resuscitate him failed. Two of the crew who had taken to a life raft were rescued.
Confirmation by the Department of the Marine yesterday that the incident occurred within the 12 mile limit allows the State to carry out a full investigation.
The death of Mr O'Driscoll raised questions which would have to be answered without delay, given that the incident occurred in perfect weather conditions, the South and West Fishermen's Organisation said last night.
The Department of the Marine ordered an investigation immediately on hearing of the collision, which occurred at about 1.20 p.m.
When the Sea Horse arrived at Bantry harbour last night it was boarded by gardai and interpreters, who took statements from the 15 strong crew.
The two Exodus crew members who survived the sinking were Mr Redmond Kelly, of Innishmore, Co Galway, and Mr Pat O'Driscoll, from the Goleen area near Mizen in west Cork.