Wexford drowning tragedies this decade

Three members of the same family were among the victims of Wexford drowning tragedies in recent years.

In August 1992, Mr Sean Gleeson (42) and his two sons David (15) and Sean (13) from Great Island, Campile, were drowned when their boat sank while on a fishing trip on the River Suir estuary.

The previous August the body of Andrew Costello (19) who had been missing for some days, was found in Courtown harbour near Gorey, and in November 1991 the body of Mr Patrick Monaghan (36) of Cabra, Dublin, was found washed up on the beach at Ballinoulart, Kilmuckridge, Gorey.

Two young sisters were drowned in the River Slaney about 100 yards from the family home in March 1993. They are thought to have been visiting the grave of a their pet dog, buried the previous day. The bodies of seven-year-old Juliette Barbour and her sister, Emma (4), were discovered by their brother, Ross.

Peter Sinnott (15) also drowned in the River Slaney at Enniscorthy, in July 1993. He is thought to have fallen into the river while fishing. In August 1994 David Bach (15), of Birr, Co Offaly, was drowned when he went swimming with his uncle and cousin at Sandeel Bay, an inlet near Hook Head.

In August 1995 two New Ross men, Mr John Lacey and Mr Michael Aspel, were drowned in Waterford harbour when the tug they were on capsized while helping a large oil tanker to berth at the Great Island power station. Last month the body of Christy O'Neill (13) from Neamstown, Kilmore Quay, was found on a beach at Neamstown. Gardai said that the cause of death was accidental drowning.