Report on missing fishing vessel due out next week

The report of the investigation into the unexplained disappearance of six crew members on the Donegal fishing vessel Carrickatine, is expected to be published next week, almost three years after the trawler vanished off Malin Head.

The survey office of the Department of the Marine conducted the inquiry and the report went to the Attorney General's Office late last year.

On the basis of the Attorney General's legal advice, "interested parties" were shown extracts of the report relating to them, and their comments will be included in an appendix of the legally approved version being published.

Other inquiry reports are expected shortly after the Carrickatine report, including the inquiry into the sinking of the Jenalisa off the Waterford coast in February 1996 with the loss of three lives.

Relatives of the six crew lost with the Donegal vessel will get copies of the report shortly before but on the same day as publication.

The crew members on the Carrickatine were the skipper, Mr Jeremy McKinney (27), his brother Conal (29), Mr John Kelly (38), his son Stephen (16), Mr Terry Doherty (21) and Mr Bernard Gormley (18).

The largest search ever mounted off the coast was carried out involving trawlers, the Air Corps and the RAF, covering an area up to four times the size of Ireland. Specialised equipment including a sonar and underwater camera were also used in the lengthy but unsuccessful search.

The trawler was last seen at the Stanton Banks fishing area, 60 miles north of Malin Head and the search began on November 16th, 1995 after the vessel failed to return to Greencastle, Co Donegal, at the appointed time.

At the time, it was suggested a submarine might have been responsible for the disappearance of the 86-foot boat. It was also suggested the vessel might have lost all power and then drifted before sinking in heavy seas.

The Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, expressed his regret in the Dail earlier this month that "progress in having this and indeed other marine casualty reports published has been slower than I would like".

In an attempt to prevent future delays the Minister will set up an independent authority. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) proceedings will be confidential and witnesses will not be incriminated in possible criminal prosecutions. This board was a key recommendation of the Government's marine casualties policy review group.