The Minister for Marine and Natural Resources has initiated an investigation into a collision between an Irish and a French trawler 70 miles west of Loop Head, Co Clare at the weekend, which resulted in the loss of the Irish vessel.
All five crew on board the 22-metre Oileann Cleire were rescued by the French craft, the 33-metre Rohellan and subsequently airlifted to safety. In a further twist, the French vessel was detained by the naval service for alleged logbook offences.
Officials from the Department of the Marine were due in Cobh early this morning to meet the French vessel, under tow into the port. They are expected to closely examine the nets wrapped around the vessel's propeller.
While under tow, one of its crewmen suffered a suspected heart attack yesterday afternoon, about 40 miles south-west of Valencia Island, and had to be taken by helicopter to Cork University Hospital. The man's condition was described by the hospital last night as comfortable.
The sequence of events began at about 7.20 p.m. on Saturday when Valencia Coast Radio Station received a call from the Irish craft. The skipper, Mr Pat O'Sullivan, and crew, claimed they had been rammed and were taking in water. The Oileann Cleire, which lands into Castletownbere, Co Cork, is a 20-year-old wooden vessel.
As the naval patrol ship LE Aisling was dispatched to the scene, the Minister for The Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, said that he was requesting full co-operation from the French ambassador in an investigation into the incident.
About 40 minutes after the first emergency call, the Irish vessel sank and the crew were picked up by the French trawler, which was itself disabled with a net wrapped around its propeller.
The Irish Marine Emergency Service medium range helicopter at Shannon proceeded to the scene and airlifted the Irish crew to Shannon.
When the LE Aisling, under Lieut Commander Barry O'Hal loran, arrived at the location, it took statements from the French vessel. Following an inspection it also detained the vessel for alleged log book offences.
The Rohellan was under tow by a neighbouring French vessel; but this tow was subsequently transferred to the naval patrol ship. It was expected to arrive into Cork Harbour today with the French craft at about 3.30 a.m. and a tug was organised to take the Rohellan into Cobh.
In a statement yesterday, the Minister for the Marine said his Marine Survey Office was conducting the inquiry and he had asked it to speak to both crews involved. He had also expressed his `extreme concern' to the French ambassador, he said.
Local sources suggested yesterday that it was not clear there had been a ramming and the incident might have been caused by the French vessel snagging the Irish vessel's nets and severely damaging its stern.
The Minister said in his statement that he was relieved no lives had been lost in "this most serious incident" and said the rapid alert procedures with the Irish Marine Emergency service, which he had put in place last year, had worked to ensure the rescue services were on hand quickly.
