COUNCIL chiefs in Donegal have said they will not be holding an inquiry into the drowning tragedy at Buncrana pier but will undertake a review of 100 piers and slipways across the county.
The council confirmed last night that an investigation due to begin next week will be a wider review and not a stand-alone inquiry into the tragedy, which claimed the lives of five members of the one family at the council-owned pier.
Sean McGrotty (48), his sons, Mark (12) and Evan (8), his sister-in-law, Jodie-Lee Daniels (14) and his mother-in-law, Ruth Daniels (57) died when Mr McGrotty’s car slid into the sea at Buncrana pier on March 20.
The only survivor was Mr McGrotty’s baby daughter Ríoghnach who was dramatically rescued from the sinking car by Kerrykeel man Davitt Walsh who swam out to the vehicle and was handed the infant by her father.
The tragedy happened after Mr McGrotty took his family out for a Sunday evening drive, while his partner Louise James was away with friends. They went to watch the sun set at the pier but the car slid off a slipway which was covered with algae.
Mr Davitt, who was also visiting the pier with his girlfriend, Stephanie Knox, swam out to the sinking car where Mr McGrotty handed him his daughter and begged him to save her before turning back to the rest of the family.
In an interview with The Irish News in June, Ms James said she was overwhelmed by the messages of support she had received from around the world in the wake of the tragedy.
She said; “I’m still receiving messages on a daily basis. It’s nice because I have read every single one and it makes you feel sometimes like you’re not the only one grieving. Even though I’ve had the biggest loss; you sort of feel that you are not on your own.”
Following the tragedy, concerns were expressed about safety measures at the Buncrana pier. While the pier had a lockable barrier to prevent cars from driving onto it, it was usually open. The barrier was closed after the tragedy and remained locked through much of the summer.
It also emerged that life belts were missing from Buncrana pier. Three months after the tragedy, Donegal County Council carried out major work at the pier in preparation for the summer run of the Lough Swilly ferry.
The missing life belts were replaced and the algae on the pier was removed. New safety signage was also installed.
A spokeswoman said: "Donegal County Council can confirm that it is not undertaking an inquiry into the Buncrana pier tragedy."
