Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, so far the only crash victim whose body has been recovered. RollingNews.ie photo
By Evan Short
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has met with those involved in the search for the three crew members of Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116, which crashed last week off the County Mayo coast.
The search operation has been continuing for the missing helicopter which crashed last Tuesday morning, March 14.
The operation has been focused ten kilometers west of Blacksod, County Mayo, but has been hampered by poor weather conditions.
Captain Dara Fitzpatrick died in the crash and was buried on Saturday.
The three other crew members on board were Chief Pilot Mark Duffy and winchmen Paul Orsmby and Ciarán Smith.
The hilicopter was providing cover for another Coast Guard helicopter on a mission at the time of the crash.
On Monday, Mr. Kenny met with Civil Defense and Coast Guard personnel.
While the black box has been located, diving crews have been unable to enter the water.
Captain of the Irish Navy ship LÉ Eithne, Commander Brian Fitzgerald, stressed that safety was paramount but hoped that the weather would soon allow for the search to begin.
Using sonar scanning technology, a detailed inspection of the undersea conditions had been carried out.
At the funeral Mass for Captain Fitzpatrick mourners at St. Patrick’s Church in Glencullen, County Dublin, heard that the day Dara adopted her son Fionn, three years ago “was one of the happiest days of her life.”
“Fionn now embodies Dara’s characteristics of family. He loves to, and often instigates, the family group hug,” said Fr. Andrew O’Sullivan.
“Dara adored Fionn,” he added and “her family was of paramount importance to her.”
In his homily, Fr. O’Sullivan said: “This church, over the years of its history, has seen many sad and tragic funerals, but few can have been as profoundly sad and sorrowful as the funeral that gathers us here today.
“The news of Dara’s death was a message that shocked and saddened all who knew Dara and her family.”
On Friday night last, St. Patrick’s Night, hundreds of people turned out in Blackrock, County Louth, to remember Captain Mark Duffy.
