Three saved as lifeboat crew battle storm force winds and heavy seas George Duffy, second coxswain/mechanic and Ian Sheridan, deputy second coxswain/assistant mechanic of Howth's Arun class lifeboat have been awarded the RNLI's Thanks inscribed on Vellum following a service to a fishing vessel that was hard aground and being pounded onto Howth's East Pier by breaking seas in the early hours of 16 November 1995. Coxswain Robert Duffy, crew members Ian Massey, Damian Cronin, David Howard, Brian McConkey and Nicholas McLoughlin; and Rupert Jeffares, station honorary secretary all received Vellum service certificates for their part in the service.The lifeboat crew, a lorry driver, the crew of an RAF rescue helicopter and the crew of a fishing vessel battled for almost two hours in a desperate attempt to save the crew of Scarlet Buccaneer which wasbreaking up in gale force winds and pounding seas, washing three of the crew of four overboard and leaving a fourth clinging to the wheelhouse.

At 0315 on the morning of Thursday 16 November 1995, Rupert Jeffares, honorary secretary of the Howth lifeboat station, was advised by Dublin MRCC that a fishing vessel was aground on the East Pier in Force 7/8 winds gusting Force 9 with some 6m swell and rough seas, and was in need of assistance.

At 0324 the Howth Arun class lifeboat City of Dublin, slipped her moorings and proceeded outside the harbour while additional crew members, dressed in drysuits and lifejackets, made their way to the East Pier to see if they could help from the shore.

Impossible When the lifeboat reached the 64ft timber vessel, she was hard aground with water up to her deck level and was being pounded onto the pier by breaking seas.

Having assessed the situation, Coxswain Duffy decided that it would be impossible to tow the vessel clear, and due to the trawler's position - hard on the revetment on a lee shore - he was unable to approach close enough to take persons off.

At 0330 Howth lifeboat returned toharbour and informed Dublin MRCC that an attempt would be made to rescue the crew from the harbour wall and requested helicopter assistance. Constant radio contact with the four trawler crew had advised them to stay in the wheelhouse and not to attempt to swim ashore.

Hindered The Howth lifeboat landed five crew members ashore with equipment to attempt a rescue from the pier. Whilst assessing the scene from the pier's upper level, Damian Cronin and Ian Massey were washed off and fell to a lower level, Nicky McLoughlin managed to grab Damian to prevent him being washed into the harbour. Four crew members remained on the pier and attempted to get a veering line to the trawler, but this was hindered by conditions as all needed full attention just to stay on the pier.

Radio contact and lights on the trawler were now lost. George Duffy was washed away from the pier wall but managed to grab a railing as he fell to a lower level, leaving him bruised and winded.

Shortly after Howth lifeboat repositioned to the inner harbour and was offered assistance by Kingfisher a 75ft trawler, Scarlet Buccaneer broke up intotwo parts - the forward section came apart from the stern and the door was washed off the wheelhouse, exposing her crew. Three of the crew were washed overboard and drifted to a shallow area, leaving a fourth aboard the floating hulk, clinging to the wheelhouse.

Realising that the fourth person was in danger, crew members on the upper wall tried to use a breeches buoy. Ian Sheridan decided to attempt to pass the breeches buoy aboard the vessel, and almost got to the trawler when he was knocked back by a wave. On his second attempt, he was washed under the trawler and struck his head on the hull. Whilst dazed, he felt the veering line and was pulled clear of the water by Eamonn Howard and Jim Duffy.

Two attempts were made to fire a rocket, but these too proved unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the remaining lifeboat crew with members of the Garda, cliff rescue and the public, searched for the remaining three fishermen, two were located, one pulled ashore and the other assisted by the fishing vessel Kingfisher, and both were transferred to hospital.

Clinging At 0446 Rescue helicopter 122 approached the scene and observed the person clinging to the bow section of the stricken trawler. The scene was well illuminated and winchman, Fit Sgt Alan Falconer recovered the casualty and transferred him to the pier.

Rescue 122 searched the area for the fourth fisherman who was later found and pulled ashore, but died on the way to the hospital as a result of injuries and hypothermia.

The Howth lifeboat returned to its moorings at 0520 whilst crew members gathered strewn equipment. Crew members Eamonn Howard, Ian Sheridan and George Duffy were taken to hospital for attention to their injuries..