THE Chief Executive Officer of Water Safety Ireland has said a report into future safety at Buncrana Pier should consider putting ‘slippery surface’ notices in the area.
A report commisioned by Donegal County Council in the aftermath of the tragedy in which five people died does not suggest this.
The 909 page report carried out by Dublin-based company GDG Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions did not specifically suggest this.
It is thought that the family of five which perished at the pier had slipped into the water after their Audi Q7 jeep slid on heavy algae.
The victims were, Sean McGrotty, 49, sons Mark McGrotty, 12, and Evan McGrotty, 8, Ruth Daniels, 57, and her daughter Jodie Lee Daniels, 14
A number of witnesses at the inquest including investigating Gardai said they found it hugely difficult to stand on the bottom of the pier because of the presence of heavy algae in March, 2016.
The Director of Services for Roads and Transportation at Donegal County Council, Mr John McLaughlin gave evidence to the inquest.
He outlined a number of recommendations suggested in the report after the tragedy.
These include additional signage and more lifebuoys at Buncrana Pier and slipway.
He clarified that of the 909 page report into Donegal’s one hundred plus piers, six and a half pages dealt specifically with Buncrana Pier.
However, none of these signs specifically refer to slippery surfaces.
CEO of Water Safety Ireland, Mr John Leech, said in his evidence that this is something which may be considered for Buncrana.
He said that the area was a tourist attraction and that there was a lot of footfall in the area.
“You may need to tell them that they could slip,” he said.
He added that there could also have yellow-hatch markings on the pier as well as a notice board informing people of the conditions.
However, he added that in his 16 years as CEO of Water Safety Ireland and his previous 21 years as a Naval Officer, he never came across such a situation.
“In relation slipways we have literally no other records of accidents of this type apart from suicides,” he said.
Council spokesman Mr McLaughlin was cross-examined at length.
He said an aspect of the recommendation of the report into piers and slipways in Donegal recommended that people should have a self-informing attitude.
He said it cost €400 each time that a pier had to be power-washed and that in 2016, Donegal County Council spent a total of €2.2 million on its piers and slipways.
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