A coroner said yesterday that a death certificate could be signed for a 28-year-old Polish man who was never found after the car in which he was a passenger went off a ferry in Cork harbour.
The inquest into the death of Krystian Mielnik heard how he was a passenger in a car driven by another Pole, Sebastian Loniawski, when the car left the Cross River Ferry, Carrigaloe, midway between Glenbrook and Carrigaloe in Cork Harbour on March 9th last.
Coroner for South Cork, Frank O’Connell, said that it was hugely regrettable that Mr Mielnik’s body had never been recovered, but it was not surprising given the history of drownings in the harbour where many bodies have never been found.
Sgt Ray Coughlan said he had been in touch with the Polish embassy regarding Mr Mielnik’s death and would inform them that a death certificate would now be available for his family in Poland. Mr O’Connell said he would adjourn the matter until January 10th for mention when he would ascertain the progress of the Garda investigation.