County Armagh men died after travelling in boat 'with several holes'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33794134

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Two County Armagh men who died during a fishing trip in County Westmeath last year, were travelling in a boat that had several holes in it, a report has found.

Daryl Burke, 30, from Portadown and David Warnock, 27, from Richhill, had borrowed the vessel for the trip on Lough Ree in March 2014.

Dublin's Marine Casualty Investigation Board has found there were holes in the craft.

A crucial joint was in poor condition.

The accident investigators also said the back of the boat was poorly repaired after suffering previous damage.

They said the boat had several holes in it, "possibly as a result of fitting different types of outboard brackets over the lifetime of the vessel".

It is thought the holes were 50mm below water level at the time the men set out on the boat from Hodson Bay towards their camping site and that it was letting up to three litres of water into the boat every minute.

A survivor said no significant wave had struck the boat and that it sank quickly from the stern, or the back of the vessel.

Two life-jackets were the only safety equipment on the boat.

Investigators said that if the boat had "been equipped with flares and a VHF radio it is possible that the rescue services would have arrived at the scene earlier and perhaps have saved the lives of the two casualties".