Sniffer dogs to search islands in latest R116 search

Anton McNulty

SPECIALLY trained sniffer dogs are to be used by rescue teams to search a number of islands off Blacksod in the ongoing search for the missing crew of Rescue 116.
The dogs are specially trained to detect the presence of human remains and will be used to search the uninhabited Inis Gé islands and DubhoileΡn Beag which are located to the east and north-east of where the R116 crashed.
The bodies of the remaining two crew members, CiarΡn Smyth and Paul Ormsby have yet to be recovered seven weeks after the Coast Guard rescue helicopter crashed into Blackrock Island on March 14.
A massive search effort involving a number of different agencies has yet to find any sign of the men.
The use of the sniffer dogs is to ensure that every effort is made to rule out areas of interest in Blacksod Bay as onshore searches continues along the Erris coast over the weekend.
Superintendent Tony Healy, who is overseeing the search, said a detailed review of evidence gathered over the last number of weeks is continuing. An exclusion zone around the crash site remains in place, meaning divers or fishermen are not permitted close to the island at present.
The remains of the senior pilot, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick were found shortly after the crash in the early hours of March 14 while Captain Mark Duffy was taken from the cockpit of the helicopter on March 26.