A military court of inquiry will be established today into the circumstances surrounding the killing of a 21-year-old sailor aboard the LE Eithne more than two years ago.
It is expected to examine a range of issues, such as the availability of alcohol aboard the vessel after hours and whether there was adequate monitoring of activities on the ship when it was docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, in Dublin, in April 2001.
The conclusions of the inquiry could lead to disciplinary action and changes in the procedures of the Naval Service.
Able Seaman Brian Gorey (21), Castletroy View, Limerick, was killed after being thrown overboard from the vessel while docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay.
Mr Sean Lundon (21), an apprentice mechanic from James Connolly Park, Tipperary, received a five-year sentence for the manslaughter of Mr Gorey last June at the Central Criminal Court.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Carney said it was one of the most difficult cases he had ever dealt with, and it was "frightening" that such gratuitous violence was now set off by drink.
The court of inquiry will be carried out by between three and five senior members of the Naval Service who are based aboard the LE Eithne.
More than 64 sailors were estimated to be aboard the vessel around the time of the killing. A small duty crew was also keeping a 24-hour shift. It is likely many of these crew members will be interviewed during the inquiry.
The Central Criminal Court heard that many off-duty sailors were drinking in the city centre on the night of the killing, while some members appeared to continue drinking on board after closing time, using private drink supplies.
Three members of the crew of the LE Eithne, which lost a crew member at sea in July 2000, were disciplined for drinking on duty.
Three members of the crew of a Naval Service ship which lost a member at sea just over two weeks ago face disciplinary action for drinking while on duty.
The Naval Service said there was no reason to link the disciplining of three men to the disappearance of a member of the crew on the same voyage.
The court of inquiry will be conducted in private, and there is no obligation on the Defence Forces to make its findings public.
The court had been established following the death of Mr Gorey but was suspended when criminal proceedings began.
It was also delayed recently due to the health of the captain of the vessel. The remainder of the inquiry is likely to take several weeks before it is concluded.
Any member of the Defence Forces which the court wishes to interview is obliged to appear before the inquiry.
A court of inquiry may be established to investigate serious or fatal injuries and accidents involving the property of the Defence Forces.
Several such courts have been established in recent years to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of members of the Defence Forces killed while serving in East Timor and Lebanon.
