Capsize WEXFORD GARDA informed the honorary secretary of Kilmore Quay lifeboat station at 0115 on Saturday, December 24, 1977, that four red flares had been sighted off Bannow Bay towards the Saltees. At 0130 maroons were fired by the honorary secretary and Coxswain Thomas Walsh, and ten minutes later Kilmore Quay lifeboat, the 37' Oakley Lady Murphy, started for the new launch site to the east of the harbour. At about 0150 the lifeboat launched on service.

Although the sea was rough at the launch site, there was no trouble launching.

The wind was west south west gale to strong gale, force 8 to 9, the sea rough. The tide was half flood with the stream turning to the east. It was cloudy but there was a moon and visibility was moderate.

Once clear of the beach Coxswain Walsh headed south west for about one mile to clear Forlorn Point, and eased back to about half speed because of the breaking seas. On clearing the point he headed west for about two miles and posted lookouts. He then altered course to the north west towards Keragh Rocks. Out in the open sea, although there was a very heavy west south west swell, there were no breaking seas.

Nevertheless, speed was still kept at just over half because of the swell; the continuous spray made lookout difficult.

Coxswain Walsh maintained this speed for the rest of the outward journey.

At first there was difficulty in establishing radio contact but at about 0215 MF contact was established on 2182 with Coningbeg Lightvessel which then acted as a relay throughout. The lightvessel had been asked by Fishguard Coastguard to act as a radio link.

As he approached the shore, Coxswain Walsh altered course to the north to close Keragh Rocks and at about 0350 arrived off these rocks and searched down towards Bannow Bay and then back. There was no sign of anything.

At about 0400 the honorary secretary asked Coningbeg Lightvessel to pass a message to the lifeboat saying that if the coxswain was satisfied there was nothing he was to return. Coxswain Walsh replied that he would continue searching on his way back, ETA 45 minutes to onehour's time. He then turned south east for Kilmore Quay keeping at just under half speed, at which the lifeboat rode easily to the beam swell.

As the lifeboat neared the shore Coxswain Walsh noticed the sea conditions had worsened. Tidal streams oft" Forlorn Point are strongest at high water when a race occurs which can run some three knots at springs. It was spring tides and high water at Kilmore Quay was at 0450. The stream runs to the east from about three hours flood to three hours ebb. It was later reported by the keeper of Tuskar Rock Lighthouse and the watchman on Coningbeg Lightvessel that the seas were the worst they had seen for some years. Wave height was estimated at 30 feet at Coningbeg and also at Kilmore Quay, where waves were breaking over the harbour wall.

At about 0430, when about one mile, south south west from Forlorn Point, a very high breaking sea hit the lifeboat just abaft the starboard beam capsizing her to port. When the lifeboat righted Coxswain Walsh discovered that Acting Second Coxswain Joseph Maddock was missing. Acting Mechanic John Devereux restarted both engines without any trouble and Coxswain Walsh then turned to starboard back to the south west, asking Crew Members Dermot Culleton and his brother David to uncover and man the searchlight. Two or three minutes later Joe Maddock was heard shouting to starboard and picked up in the light of the searchlight.

Coxswain Walsh then manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside the man in the water and he was pulled aboard over the starboard shoulder by Dermot Culleton, Finton Sinnott, John Devereux and the coxswain, who himself came up to help.

The port section of the windscreen was found to be missing, the centre of the windscreen shattered and the mast broken where it entered the tabernacle.

Ropes, fenders and other loose gear had been lost overboard and the drogue had streamed itself. Rather than attempt to recover the drogue Coxswain Walsh had the drogue ropes made fast. John Devereux tried the MF radio but was unable to contact anybody. Joe Maddock was brought aboard and placed in the forward well and Dermot Culleton and Finton Sinnott stayed with him. Finton Sinnott, who had been under the aft shelter at the time of the capsize, was seen to have a badly cut head.

Coxswain Walsh then turned back to the east to return to harbour. He was unsure of his position as harbour and street lights were not working and he found it difficult to judge the distance off. He therefore continued to the south east, at slow speed, for a while and then turned north to enter harbour. The lifeboat had just turned north when a second exceptionally heavy breaking sea hit the lifeboat on her port beam capsizing her to starboard.

On righting, there were only Thomas Walsh, John Devereux and Eugene Kehoe left on board. John Devereux immediately started both engines and again they started without trouble. The lifeboat was still heading towards the harbour but was being rapidly set down eastward towards St Patrick's Bridge.

David Culleton was in the water close by the stern and Coxswain Walsh and John Devereux pulled him aboard first and then went forward to pull in Dermot Culleton, who was hanging on to a grab line on the starboard bow.

Joe Maddock could be seen just to the west and Coxswain Walsh told David Culleton to man the searchlight while he turned the lifeboat back towards him.

John Devereux then went up to man the searchlight to allow Dermot and David Culleton to go forward to pull Joe Maddock aboard. Coxswain Walsh and John Devereux also went to help.

The lifeboat was now setting down towards the broken water of St Patrick's Bridge and Coxswain Walsh called for the other three to hold on to Joe Maddock and went back and started heading the lifeboat slowly west to clear the breakers. The three men had difficulty in holding Joe Maddock alongside as the lifeboat got under way, but managed to keep their grip and a few minutes later he was brought aboard and again placed in the forward well.

He was now suffering badly from shock and exposure.

Coxswain Walsh then continued to search the area, looking for Finton Sinnott, until he was back abeam the harbour. There was no sign of Finton Sinnott in the water and, as Coxswain Walsh was now concerned about the state of the rest of his crew, he decided to go back into Kilmore Quay. Rather than turn across the weather he stemmed the seas and tide and allowed the lifeboat to crab towards the harbour entrance before turning in.

At 0515 Coxswain Walsh put the lifeboat alongside the quay wall well up in the harbour and the crew were helped ashore by those waiting. The crew members were seen by Dr McCarthy who treated them all for shock. Dermot Culleton and Joe Maddock were taken by ambulance to Wexford County Hospital.

Second Coxswain John Connick and Motor Mechanic William Culleton, who had not been aboard for the service, volunteered to take the boat out at daylight with a new crew to search for the missing man. John Connick had not heard the maroons because of the weather, and by the time someone had fetched him he had arrived too late to go out in the lifeboat. Liam Culleton was on weekend leave. He had, in fact, arrived down in time to help launch the lifeboat but had not gone out as Assistant Mechanic John Devereux, his relief, was already aboard.

At this time it was thought that the VHF was still working and communica-tions would be possible with Dunmore Pilots. The honorary secretary and divisional inspector therefore agreed to this further search. The honorary secretary had also requested an Army helicopter and, after consultation with the divisional inspector, for Rosslare Harbour lifeboat to go out also to search from the east.

Kilmore Quay lifeboat left harbour at 0810 to search for the missing man.

The weather had moderated, with the wind westerly, strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, but there was still a heavy southerly swell. It was cloudy and there was moderate visibility. The tide was now setting to the west.

Second Coxswain John Connick went out over St Patrick's Bridge and searched eastward along the shoreline.

Shortly after sailing the port shaft became fouled and the crew were unable to free the propeller. The search was therefore continued on one engine.

When the lifeboat returned it was found that a rope had fouled the port propeller.

The search continued for twoand- a-half hours. Sadly, however, it was unsuccessful and the body of Finton Sinnott was found by a local farmer at about 1010, on the shore at Meanstown.

At about 1040 the helicopter lowered a man to the lifeboat to inform them that they should return to station. The lifeboat returned to harbour at 1130 and was eventually recovered that afternoon.

The recarriaging was organised by the district engineer and district surveyor of lifeboats who had arrived at the station at 0930 that morning.

For this service the silver medal for gallantry has been awarded to Coxswain Thomas F. Walsh and the bronze medal to Acting Mechanic John J. Devereux.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Acting Second Coxswain Joseph V.

Maddock, Acting Assistant Mechanic Dermot Culleton and Crew Members David Culleton and Eugene Kehoe. A vellum has been accorded posthumously to the late Crew Member Finton M.

Sinnott. Letters of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Institution, have been sent to Second Coxswain John Connick, Motor Mechanic William Culleton and Crew Members Michael Culleton, Richard Barry and John Kehoe..