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Demands for safety review at Buncrana pier following tragedy

The entrance to the slipway at Buncrana Pier where five members of a Derry family were drowned on Sunday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
The entrance to the slipway at Buncrana Pier where five members of a Derry family were drowned on Sunday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin The entrance to the slipway at Buncrana Pier where five members of a Derry family were drowned on Sunday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

A DONEGAL politician has called for a complete overhaul of safety procedures at Buncrana pier following the tragic deaths of the McGrotty and Daniels families.

Fianna Fail councillor Rena Donaghy said lessons must be learned from the tragedy which claimed the lives of Sean McGrotty, his sons, Evan and Mark, mother-in-law, Ruth Daniels and her daughter, Jodie Lee Daniels.

While the slipway from which Mr McGrotty’s car skidded into the sea on Sunday night can be closed, a security gate is seldom used.

Sunday’s tragedy was not the first time that a car has slid into the. The town’s lifeboat crew reported a similar incident two years ago when a car was dragged into Lough Swilly while launching a boat. On that occasion, the driver managed to jump clear as the car slid on algae.

Mrs Donaghy said: “This is obviously a very difficult time but it would be wrong of public representatives not to deal with issues as they arise.

“The pier is relatively new but it is time to review safety there. We need to look at the number of lifebelts on the pier and at the security gate. There must be some way we can keep the gate closed while ensuring that emergency services have access if they need to get onto the slipway.”

The Buncrana councillor said she intended raising the issues with Donegal County Council.

A council spokesman offered condolences to the Daniels and McGrotty families.

He said: “Once the facts surrounding this unfortunate tragedy are established, the council will review them and determine if any specific measures need to be taken.”