A confidential draft report into the investigation of the Air Corps helicopter crash near Tramore, Co Waterford, last year was yesterday given to the families of the four crewmen who died.
The accident investigators have been looking into the causes of the worse accident in the Air Corps' 77-year history. The aircraft came down near Tramore beach in dense fog on July 2nd last year.
Capt David O'Flaherty (30) from Tullamore, Co Offaly; Capt Michael Baker (28), Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; Sgt Paddy Mooney (34), Stamullen, Co Meath, and Cpl Niall Byrne (24), Killiney, Co Dublin, were killed in the crash.
The investigation focused on how such an accident could have happened to a high-tech aircraft. Investigators from the Air Accident Investigations Unit of the Department of Public Enterprise prepared the draft report.
The families and other parties will be given 28 days to make any comments on the report. The investigation team will then produce a final report.