Tag Archives: Doolin Coast Guard Unit

A FORMER Doolin Coast Guard member has revealed he resigned twice in the space of about four months after assurances to address management issues were not addressed. Des Egan, who jointed the Doolin Unit in 2015, resigned at the end of October amid frustration about the way volunteers were being treated by the Coast Guard at national level. After receiving a request to return, Mr Egan said he decided to join the interim team in late December without knowing who was or wasn’t rejoining following an assurance the main findings of the Mulvey Report would be addressed within a three-month period. The former volunteer confirmed he stayed for about three months and left again because management issues were not addressed to his satisfaction. “It wasn’t an easy decision. Management in head office didn’t step up and deliver what I consider they are paid for. What has happened the unit is sad. People don’t give up their time and energy to …

ROBERT McCavery was the youngest member when he joined the Doolin Coast Guard Unit (DCGU) in 2008. Fourteen years later, the Lahinch native was left wondering what he did wrong when he was sacked on his 40th birthday. “When the six people left, we thought when they are gone they are gone. But we got more suspicious as time went on. “We knew there was something happening because there was very few turning up for training and the same people were missing for weeks. “Over the last few years before we were sacked, I felt I was looking over my shoulder because someone was going to report me over something very minor.” Commenting on interpersonal difficulties, he said five or six years ago people who had issues with each other should have been instructed and facilitated by Coast Guard management to come together to fully resolve them and, if this couldn’t be done, they should have been told to stay …

THE alleged failure of Irish Coast Guard management to resolve practical issues hampering the work of Doolin volunteers prompted the first resignation of one of its longest serving members. Conor McGrath has spoken publicly for the first time about the reasons why he was forced to quit the service after 31 years through sheer frustration over inaction to resolve five key issues. In an exclusive interview with the Clare Champion, Mr McGrath recalled how he resigned shortly after writing his resignation letter on October 28, and this was followed by the departure of another five members within a few days. While local management was supportive, the Doolin resident, who is regarded as one of the best rock and sea cave climbers in the country, alleged national management was “disruptive”. “One of our team members Caitríona Lucas was killed in Kilkee and there was the helicopter crash. There was a lot of oversight and criticism of management. “I think they had …

A DOOLIN-BASED expert rock climber has recalled how a team drilled around 120 bolts along the wall of a sea cave to rescue a man that had been trapped for almost 22 hours. The man was forced to remain on a ledge after a freak wave washed him into a cave at Downpatrick Head on the Mayo coast beyond Killala at 6pm on Saturday, September 17. Former Doolin Coast Guard volunteer, Conor McGrath said, “It was probably the most technical rescue ever undertaken in my 40 years’ experience. To rescue the man alive after such a long time was a great bonus. It was a very good result for all the team.” Mr McGrath recalled a few people were swimming and climbing along the coast when they were washed off a ledge into the water around 5.30pm. The RNLI Lifeboat was tasked to the scene after a woman was rescued by kayakers, but a Polish man in his forties was …

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was mounted this morning after a tractor was discovered overturned in a river in North Clare. The alarm was raised at around 10.30am after a passer-by called the Irish Coast Guard to report finding the vehicle lying on its side in the Aille River at Coolagh Bridge close to Doolin. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service and the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter were all alerted and tasked to the incident. Gardaí were also informed. Volunteers from the Doolin unit of the Coast Guard made their way to the scene. Members checked the tractor’s cab and the area around the vehicle but found no trace of the driver. Units of Ennistymon Fire Service arrived soon afterwards and personnel, trained in water rescue, also carried out a search of the river downstream from the scene. A comprehensive search of the area was completed however …

A man has died in hospital after he got into difficulty while swimming in North Clare on Tuesday evening. Two people were reported to have been in danger after they were pulled out to sea at Fanore at around 9.15pm. The alarm was raised and a search and rescue operation was quickly mounted. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí responded to the scene. The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, was also tasked to the incident. On arrival at the scene, emergency services found that a young child had been taken to safety by others in the area while the helicopter crew carried out a search for the man. The man was quickly located and the helicopter winchman/paramedic was lowered into sea to pluck the casualty from the water. Efforts to resuscitate the man were quickly carried out on board the helicopter as he was flown to University Hospital Galway. The helicopter …

TEN FORMER Doolin Coast Guard volunteers, with at least 155 years of experience between them, still haven’t received a meaningful response almost six weeks after offering to return as a group to facilitate a proper working of the unit. On May 3, the ten members sent an expression of interest to return to the unit as a group in response to correspondence issued by the national Coast Guard on April 14 last. “As a collective group with many years of experience and relevant IRCG qualifications we feel that this interview process is unnecessary. “Since the “standing down” of the unit, we are and have been available to return to active duties of Doolin Coast Guard as a group. “With immediate effect we can facilitate the return of the Doolin Coast Guard Unit to full operational capacity in all competencies,” they stated. Apart from an email requesting clarification whether the members wanted to participate in the recruitment process on an individual …

THE failure to conduct an inquest into the tragic death of a Doolin volunteer at sea is a breach of her constitutional rights, an international maritime lawyer has claimed. Mother-of-two Caitriona Lucas (41), an advanced coxswain with Doolin Coast Guard died off Kilkee on September 12, 2016. Ms Lucas was helping the neighbouring Coast Guard unit from Kilkee in the search for a missing man, but she died after its rigid inflatable boat (RIB) capsized in a shallow surf zone. Two other crew members on board the RIB, who were also thrown into the sea, survived. Michael Kingston has questioned why an inquest has yet to be held into the death of Caitriona Lucas, the first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to lose their life during active service. “It is shocking and totally unacceptable that almost six years after Ms Lucas’s death, no inquest has as yet been heard. “This is a breach of Caitriona Lucas’ human rights and the rights …