The Irish Coast Guard says it accepts the findings made in the inquest into the death of advanced coxswain Caitriona Lucas of its Doolin unit off the Clare coast in September 2016.
A statement by the Irish Coast Guard said it would “now take time to reflect on the recommendations” and described Ms Lucas as “a very highly regarded and valued member of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard who tragically lost her life in the course of duty”.
“We would like to extend our condolences to Ms Lucas’s family and friends on their enormous loss,” it said.
“We will now take time to reflect on the recommendations that have been made,” it stated and said that it was working to implement recommendations arising from two previous investigations into her death.
The jury of seven returned a verdict of death by misadventure and issued seven recommendations relating to Coast Guard safety, training, equipment and management at the four-day hearing, which concluded on Thursday before Limerick coroner John McNamara at Kilmallock court, Co Limerick.
In his summing up for the jury, Mr McNamara said it was “unfortunate” that her drysuit, which had filled with water, was not available for inspection by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) or its experts.
Mr McNamara said that “it is clear that if Ms Lucas’s helmet had remained on, it may have avoided the head injury that she sustained”.
Dr Teresa Laszlo, consultant pathologist, gave the cause of Ms Lucas’s death as drowning. A skull injury was a contributory factor.
Ms Lucas’s family was heavily critical of the Irish Coast Guard after the hearing, questioning why a 2012 recommendation to put in a safety systems manager was not implemented until 2018 – two years after her death.
The Irish Coast Guard said its “priority at all times is the safety of our volunteers who save the lives of others”.
“Following Ms Lucas’s death, both the HSA and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board have conducted reviews into the incident, and the Irish Coast Guard has worked to implement the recommendations stemming from both of these reports,” it said.
“The Irish Coast Guard is committed to operating at the highest possible maritime safety standards so that we support and protect our volunteers as they work to serve communities all around Ireland,” it said.
It thanked Mr McNamara and the jury “for the work and time they have dedicated to this inquest”.