Judge gives benefit of doubt to skipper of island ferry

A ferry skipper who had been involved in the rescue of three seamen off Burtonport, Co Donegal, was later prosecuted for overloading his vessel on two other occasions the same night.

Dominic Sweeney, owner of the passenger ferry Rhum , which operates between Burtonport and Arranmore Island, was yesterday charged at Dungloe District Court with carrying 70 passengers and 93 passengers on August 13th and 14th, 2011.

Outside the court, Mr Sweeney explained his involvement in the earlier rescues.

He said that at about mid-day a punt with two on aboard got into difficulties on rocks off a small island between Burtonport and Arranmore.

He said: “We went over and put a line aboard and pulled them out.”

Later in the afternoon a small vessel broke down in waters known as the “black hole”, a dangerous area in the same vicinity.

He said: “We notified the coastguard and stood by while a smaller vessel pulled out the other boat and the man on it.”

Earlier during the hearing Capt Nick Cantwell, nautical surveyor at the Department of Transport, said the ferry was licensed to carry only 48 passengers and three crew after dark. It was licensed to carry 96 passengers and four crew during daylight hours.

Judge Paul Kelly said he was giving Mr Sweeney the benefit of the doubt.