The Department of Transport has refuted claims by legal representatives for Irish Coast Guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas’s family that it had attempted to obstruct the inquest into her death.
As The Irish Independent reports, the resumed preliminary inquest in Kilmallock, Co Limerick on June 12th was told that it was “staggering” that key evidence had not yet been provided to Ms Lucas’s family.
Doolin Coast Guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas died after a Kilkee Coast Guard unit RIB, which she was crewing on, capsized during a search for a missing man on September 12th, 2016.
Maritime lawyer Michael Kingston, representing the Lucas family, questioned the whereabouts of the helmet, life jacket and dry suit which were worn by Ms Lucas.
He also said that the family had not yet received audio and visual recordings of the rescue attempt.
Simon Mills, senior counsel representing the Department of Transport, refuted Kingston’s claim that a letter was sent from the department to the coroner, John McNamara, saying it wanted an inquest carried out in a certain way and that it would decide what evidence would be produced.
The coroner said he would write to the office of the Chief State Solicitor, who was also represented in court, requesting that all relevant evidence, including audio and visual recordings from the day, as well as any available drone footage, be provided to the inquest. It has been set for November 27th next.
Read more in The Irish Independent here