Call for trawler boarding ladders

A coroner has called for boarding ladders to be used to access trawlers following the death of a fisherman.

A coroner has called for boarding ladders to be used to access trawlers following the death of a fisherman.

Oliver Cunningham (43), from Killybegs in Donegal, drowned as he returned to the Patrick C vessel, docked at Castletownbere, last year.

Coroner Frank O’Connell said he would welcome tighter regulations on use of boarding ladders on trawlers after it emerged other seamen died in similar circumstances at the pier.

Mr Cunningham had had to jump as he tried to board the vessel on April 25th last.

READ MORE

Sgt Fachtna O’Donovan said it was not the first time such an incident happened. “Especially when the stern is up against the pier, often they have to jump to get back on the boat,” he said.