A verdict of accidental death has been returned in the inquest into the deaths of the four members of the Irish Coastguard team who perished when their helicopter crashed in Blacksod Bay in March 2017.
The jury sitting in Castlebar for the inquest into the Irish Coastguard R116 helicopter crash, which resulted in the deaths of four crew members – the pilot Capt Dara Fitzpatrick, co-pilot Capt Mark Duffy, and winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith – determined that a verdict of accidental death be returned.
The jury foreman told the bereaved families the respect and sense of responsibility felt by the jury towards front line rescue service professionals, their families and to those lost in service could not be overstated.
The jury found all four crew members died accidentally following the helicopter crash into the sea on March 14, 2017, in Blacksod Bay.
In his address, the jury foreman recommended that there be definitive medical criteria informing any decision to dispatch an emergency helicopter.
“There should be no ambiguity as to who the decision-maker is.
“There should be reliable top cover available at all times ideally not using another SARs aircraft.
“Based on clear evidence errors in mapping and navigation aids contributed significantly to this accident.
“There needs to be cohesive oversight in relation to the various bodies and agencies who bear collective responsibility for the provision of these services.”
