Families hurt by river tragedies support rescuers

BY MARK HILLIARD, Drogheda Independent - Friday April 4th 2003

THREE local families who tragically lost loved ones in the River Boyne gathered last week to present a local rescue service with new safety equipment after fundraising events earlier in the year.

Members of the Faherty, Dunne and McGahey families were delighted to present the Boyne Fisherman's Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) with a state-of-the-art underwater communication system at a cost of nearly €8,000.

The new equipment will both make the diver's work easier and considerably safer, now that they will be able to communicate openly during operations.

Diver Peter Robinson said of the equipment: 'It will make our job just a lot easier in recovery and about 60 per cent safer. It lends a hand to what we already do.'

Another BFRRS worker, Craig Burke said: 'It will be a lot safer under the water to know where your partner is all the time and what area you have covered. It will be a lot safer all the time.'

Although the highly trained rescue divers have managed without the equipment in the past it could be useful in saving a diver's life if a potentially life threatening situation ever arose.

Commenting on their donation, the three families were full of praise for the local rescue services and said that more needs to be done to support them.

Fundraisers Kevin Dunne and Michael Faherty came together to organise a hugely successful night in the Stag's Head last February. Both families were grateful for the long hours of hard work the BFRRS put in to finding their loved ones.

Mr Dunne lost a brother and two nephews in the Boyne. 'I couldn't do enough for these men, the work they do is priceless,' he said, adding that a lack of funding was a serious hurdle to the organisation.

Mr Faherty, who suffered the loss of two sons, agreed, saying: 'There is not enough being done, they are depending on people's generosity, they cannot do it themselves. These men are there for everyone, they are like unpaid firemen.' More equipment will be necessary, he said, when the group get their new boat house later in the year.

Reaction to the fundraising evening was brilliant throughout the community, the men said, with not a single person declining to help out.

The McGahey family, who were devastated following the loss of their son Niall last Christmas, held a recent benefit night in the Westcourt to raise money for both the BFRRS and the Drogheda River and Sea Rescue (DRSR).

The night raised an impressive €11,000 thanks to the generous contributions of those attending and a long list of services given for free, including music and the Westcourt itself where Niall used to work.

'I could not praise them enough. No matter how much we raise it will never be enough. I am delighted that they got this equipment if it helps keep them safe.

'The last thing we want is for one of them to go out and look for someone's son or daughter and get lost themselves,' said Mr McGahey.

© Drogheda Independent