The Mayo News

A fishing boat that sank in mysterious circumstances off Erris Head, County Mayo, on June 11 last, has been located.

The Chief’s boat is located


As navy divers locate the Iona Isle off Erris, Garda chief says it is unlikely it will be salvaged

Áine Ryan

A FISHING boat that sank in mysterious circumstances off Erris Head, County Mayo, in the early hours of June 11 last, has been located.
Chief Supt Tony McNamara said yesterday (Monday) it is unlikely that the 12-metre Iona Isle, owned by a leading Corrib gas project opponent, will be salvaged.
 He confirmed it was located late last week after a naval services diving team, tasked by the gardaí, identified the boat’s location in very deep waters off Erris Head.
“The boat was located in very deep water by the diving team but it is unlikely it will be lifted. Considerations are the very high costs involved, the fact there was no loss of life, together with the likely evidence that would be gathered,” said Supt McNamara.
The Iona Isle was one of a small fleet of crab fishing boats owned by Pat O’Donnell, known locally as The Chief.
O’Donnell claims that in the early hours of June 11, while guarding his fishing gear ahead of the arrival of the Shell contracted pipelaying vessel, the Solitaire his 12-metre boat was boarded by four armed men. He says they held himself and his crewman captive while they set about scuttling it.
He also claims that the captives spoke with foreign accents and steamed out to the open sea after his boat was damaged. O’Donnell says he managed to launch a life raft just minutes before his boat sank.
At the time, Shell E&P Ireland said in a statement that it ‘emphatically rejected’ any allegation that ‘people employed on the Corrib gas project were involved in any way in the incident which led to the sinking of the Iona Isle’.
Responding last night, Pat O’Donnell said he was not surprised that the vessel will not be salvaged.
“Of course I am disappointed. I was aware that any raising of the vessel would cost up to €0.5 million. And with the speed she sank and depth she went down there would have been serious structural damage done,” O’Donnell said. He cannot claim through his insurance policy for the loss because it sank due to ‘a terrorist act’.
Mr O’Donnell has also criticised the gardaí for not acting more quickly on the night.
“I put a call into Belmullet Garda Station at 4.40am saying the bandits had gone north and out to sea. Why didn’t they act at the time and immediately set-up checkpoints at all the ports around Mayo,” he added.
In another twist, sources known to The Mayo News have alleged that it was Shell contracted survey vessels that initially located the Iona Isle. However Supt Tony McNamara said this was not true and that it was the navy divers that found it. When contacted about the matter, a Shell spokeswoman, Ms Denise Horan said:  “Shell E&P Ireland Ltd has no comment to make in relation to the possible retrieval of the Iona Isle. That is a matter between the Gardaí and Mr O’Donnell.”
She also confirmed that Shell last week received a written response from the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association (EIFA) in relation to fishing gear that was ‘relocated’ ahead of the arrival of giant pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire.
Ms Horan said: “A telephone discussion has since taken place between representatives of both sides and it is hoped that further progress on the matter will be made this week, with a view to it being finalised to the satisfaction of both parties as soon as possible.”

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