Support Group
The Boyne fishermen’s Rescue, and families who have lost loved ones in drowning tragedies, are in the process of setting up a support group for families waiting on the rivers edge, for news of a loved one, as the search is on going.

We will be working from the Boyne fishermen’s new boathouse, when it is completed, our aims are, to assure the family that everything that can be done is being done, to stop all the false information being given to families. To bring them in from the cold, offer a cup of tea, sit with them on their lonely vigil. Talk with them, if they want to talk, sometimes you can’t talk at a time like this you just want to sit and say nothing, and this they will be able to do in privacy, away from the public glare and the media. Where the new boathouse is located, it will allow us to restrict access. This is very important when a loved one is found. Only people who should be there, will be allowed in, this will ensure that the proper respect is shown to the bereaved, and their loved one.

Many of the people who will be in this support group, are people who have lost loved ones in drowning tragedies.  We have been through it; we want to extend a helping hand to other families, down along the line. This will be all voluntary; it will be the first support group of its kind, working on the front line. We intend to be there for the families, in their darkest hour.

The Gardai will be working with us on this. We are also linking up with other organisations, which offer bereavement support and counseling. We feel when the search is over, and a loved one found. It is then our links with these organisations will be needed. So often after the funeral is over, everyone else can get back to their lives, and a family is left on their own to cope. We will try our best to make sure there is someone there to help.

We are also involved with S.P.A.N - Suicide Prevention Awareness Network, which is chaired by John McGuire, Chief suicide prevention resource officer, with the Health Services Executive, Nort-Eeast. S.P.A.N. has representatives from many organisations, such as Aware, Grow, Samaritans, Mental Health Ireland, and many others. For information on any of the above support groups, or if you want information on any other service. Phone the H.S.E. 24 hour Information line on 1850 24 1850 or vist the website at: www.hse.ie