Garda resources: A huge increase in suicide-related drownings in recent years has left the Garda Water Unit overstretched and under-resourced, according to gardaí.
Despite this, there are no plans to extend the unit, says the Garda Press Office. "They are constantly busy. There are not enough of them at the moment and it probably needs to be expanded. But, like everything else, it's a question of resources," a Garda spokeswoman said.
There is just one Garda Water Unit in Ireland which comprises a team of professional divers who are called upon when an underwater search for bodies or evidence is required. The unit comprises about 17 professional divers, five rescue and diving boats, and 10 life rafts.
The unit's boats are kept on the River Shannon and the gardaí are based at Santry station in Dublin.
At a recent inquest, it was heard that an underwater search of the Royal Canal in Dublin for the body of a woman could not take place for five days as the Garda Water Unit was occupied at the time, the inquest was told.
The family of Caroline Wade (26), flat 8A Summerhill, Dublin, whose body was discovered on January 16th last in the Royal Canal, have strongly criticised the search delay. "Those five or six days Caroline was in the water could have been avoided," her sister, Tracey Wade, said outside Dublin City Coroner's Court. She said it was "a bit ridiculous" there was just one Garda Water Unit and the delay in the search had caused great anxiety for the family.
Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned an open verdict on Ms Wade's death as no one witnessed her enter the canal. Dr Farrell added he would write to the Garda authorities, outlining the family's dissatisfaction.
"A request for the Garda Water Unit was put in on the 11th or the 12th but, unfortunately, it was involved in a number of ongoing inquiries and its first availability was on the 16th," Garda Paul Carney from Fitzgibbon Street station told the Coroner's Court. The unit was in Cork as part of a murder inquiry.
Ms Wade's body was recovered two and a half weeks after she went missing. Det Sgt Derek McDonnell told the court gardaí had carried out a visual inspection of the canal when Ms Wade was first reported missing, but concluded she had not entered the canal and did not immediately request the Garda Water Unit.
Ms Wade lived just a few hundred yards from the canal's edge.
"We were of the opinion that a body in water would rise after three days. That was a mistake," he said.
In court, Ms Wade's brother, Gavin, expressed concern the gardaí had not sought an expert opinion.