THE FAMILIES of two US citizens who fell to their deaths on the Skellig Michael Unesco world heritage site off the coast of Co Kerry last year have taken legal proceedings against the State.
Carolyn Gaughan, the widow of Joseph Gaughan (77), of McLean Street, Pennsylvania, who died on May 3rd, 2009, and Richard Spooner, the widower of Christine Spooner (57) of Rochester, New York, who died after a fall on September 20th, have appointed the same Dublin solicitor to deal with the case, Mr Spooner confirmed.
Mr Spooner said the families’ main concern was the safety of future visitors and they were determined to improve safety measures on Skellig Michael, a sixth-century monastic site 12km off the Kerry coast.
He has written a critique of an independent safety review commissioned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) after the deaths.
The safety review points out that a visit to the rock is akin to a mountaineering activity, and presents high risks, and it recommends against erecting safety barriers.
But Mr Spooner, supported by the Gaughan family, described the report as “deeply flawed” and called for its withdrawal.
In his critique, dated June 30th last, he wrote that the report “uses words calling for a balance between safety and site preservation.
“In its logic and conclusions, however, the report lacks this balance and instead mounts an unyielding defence of the basic status quo.”
Mr Spooner continued: “That status quo killed my wife and Carolyn’s husband during the same year at the same location from the same hazard. Enough is enough.”
He also said not enough emphasis was placed on the value of human life and on modest safety precautions which would protect individuals.
“It may be impossible to protect people on the hundreds of mountains in Scotland and Ireland which form the basis of the report’s statistical conclusions.
“However, the island is a contained, densely visited location, with known hazards,” he said.
Mr Spooner has sent the 15-page document to the OPW as well as the Minister of State in charge of the agency, Dr Martin Mansergh, and Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
It has also been sent to officers at Unesco, the body that designated the island a world heritage site in 1996 because of its monastic buildings and unique testament to early Christian settlement.
Mr Spooner has also sent a copy of the document to Kerry coroner Terence Casey, who has made strong calls for safety measures at the inquests into the deaths of Mr Gaughan and Ms Spooner.
Since the fatalities, the OPW has erected a safety chain near the ledge.
Warnings in line with the recommendations contained in the review are being issued to visitors to the site.
However, a recommendation to shorten the visiting season to the island is being resisted by local boat operators who fear loss of business.
An OPW spokesperson said claims are lodged with the State’s claim agency of the National Treasury Management Agency.
The OPW would make no comment on individual claims.