Sir, - On behalf of our association I would like to extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the Murphy family in Belmullet. I would like to congratulate the emergency services for their professional work done on that tragic day. In particular I would like to congratulate the 17-year-old lifeguard, trained by our association and employed by Mayo County Council, who ran from Belmullet Pool where she was on duty to Trβ M≤r Beach where the tragedy occurred. She recovered the body of Niall Murphy, carrying out resuscitation in an effort to save him.
I would also like to congratulate you on your editorial decision to publish Keith Henegan's depicting the runners and clothes left by yet another victim of a drowning tragedy. This photograph has communicated a message to your readers of the reality of such a tragedy.
In my former career I was involved in many search and recovery operations following this type of tragedy and I have first-hand experience of what families go through after a drowning tragedy. There are a number of things I learned from my work as a naval diver - the importance of the bodies of loved ones being recovered for a burial service; the waiting, which can almost be unbearable for some; and the fact that these families do not want to see a drowning tragedy visit any other household in this country again.
The photograph you published is very similar to a photograph poster, which this association, together with the Department of Marine and Natural Resources, printed about a year ago. The message was essentially the same, except that fortunately it did not depict a real tragedy; the caption on it was "A Sad Day".
We rarely hear of the lives that are saved by promotion, education and training campaigns in water safety. Regrettably, we only hear about the lives that are lost to drowning tragedies, not those that are saved.
I have read all the letters published since July 20th and I can understand how some people may well feel upset by the poignancy of this disturbing photograph. I am certain of one thing: that this thought-provoking image will save lives, however disturbing and shocking members of the public may find it. I hope it will prompt people to exercise due caution when visiting the beaches this season. - Yours, etc.,
Lt Cdr John F. M. Leech, Chief Executive, Irish Water Safety Association.