An inquest into the Buncrana pier tragedy has been scheduled for two days at the Lake of the Shadows Hotel in the town, RTÉ reports. The inquest was held in order to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring.
On March 20, 2016, an Audi Q7 slid off the slipway into Lough Swilly where it sank with five passengers inside. 49-year-old Sean McGrotty, his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his partner's mother Ruth Daniels (59), and her 14-year-old daughter Jodie-Lee Tracey died in the tragic accident.
The only survivor was Sean’s daughter, four-month-old Rioghnach-Ann. Her father passed her through the broken driver’s window to former footballer Davitt Walsh, just before the vehicle sank. The baby's mother, Louise James, says her infant daughter has given her a reason to live.
At the inquest today, Francis Crawford said that he parked approximately halfway down the slipway, RTÉ reports. He said he saw a black people carrier about three or four yards off the slipway in the water, practically parallel with it. The driver’s side was facing the slipway.
Francis said that he shouted “Are you okay?” to the driver after rolling down his own window. The driver told him to call the coastguard. Francis got out of his car, and he said that while he did so the man continued yelling in a panicked voice for him to call the coastguard.
Francis stated that he dialed 999, and when he was put through to Malin Head he imparted to them how serious the situation was. He said that a family was in the car and tragedy was imminent.
Francis also said he could hear children crying, RTÉ reports.
Then another car arrived on the slipway and Davitt Walsh and a woman emerged. Francis asked Davitt if he could swim. He said that Davitt took off his clothes until he was in just boxer shorts, then swam out to the Audi.
According to Francis, the vehicle was bobbing in the water and still floating, though at this point it was approximately 10 to 15 years from the slipway and bobbing off.
Davitt swam out to the car, and when he returned Francis noticed the other man was carrying an infant.
The former footballer told Francis that he thought there were two adults and two children in the vehicle. According to Francis, the woman who had come with Davitt took the infant after Davitt said, “Take the baby, take the baby.”
Francis said the next turn of events seemed to happen quite swiftly.
The nose of the car suddenly went out of sight, then came back up and the car sank to the bottom. The car sank 12 minutes after he called the coastguard, according to Francis.
The lower ten feet of the slipway was algae-covered and slippery as ice, Francis said and he noted that only locals would know not to go on there. According to him, ten similar incidents had happened, but all with single occupants of vehicles who were able to escape in time.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who died in the Buncrana pier tragedy.
