BBC TV crew down for Boyne rescuers

By Fiona Magennis, Drogheda Independent - Friday January 21st 2005

A YEAR after the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) were presented with the boat ‘The Jordan’ by the people of County Down, a BBC documentary crew have visited Drogheda to document how the boat has helped the service.

Named after Jordan Murdoch, the nine year old who tragically lost his life in Killoch, the boat was purchased for the BFRRS by Jordan’s family and the community of Killoch after they spent days tirelessly searching for his body. Family, friends and members of the local community joined forces in a fundraising drive to purchase the boat.

The documentary explores the work that has been done by the service over the past year and how ‘The Jordan’ has helped them in both rescue and recovery missions.

The programme was filmed in Drogheda on Wednesday last, and will be screened on BBC Northern Ireland in the coming months.

‘The boat has been invaluable to the service and has been out on a number of rescue missions as well as visiting local schools to educate students on water safety,’ said a spokesperson for the BFRRS.

The documentary was filmed at Donors Green and at Horse Lane in the town.

‘The BFRRS are very very appreciative of the presentation of ‘The Jordan’ to them. They would like to thank the family and the people of Killoch for their support, their grief and devastation will never be forgotten.’

She went on to say that it was a very humbling experience for the members of the BFRRS that during their time of grief the community still extended the hand of friendship.

Meanwhile, the members of the BFRRS recovered the body of a woman on Tuesday last at 12pm in Virginia, Cavan. The service was called in to help in the search the previous Saturday when conditions were particularly treacherous as the storm had left debris in the water and water levels were very high.

© Drogheda Independent