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Naval Divers off Adam Island in west Cork during the search in January. Julien Behal/PA Archive

Inquest into deaths of five Tit Bonhomme crew members opens today

The fishing vessel sank off the coast of Cork in January last year with just one member of the crew surviving.

THE INQUEST INTO the deaths of five men, who were crew members on the fishing trawler Tit Bonhomme in January last year, is due to begin today.

The vessel sank near Glandore Harbour in West Cork on 15 January last year leading to the death of five of the six crew members, including the skipper Michael Hayes. Hayes decided to turn the fishing trawler back because of technical difficulties but during the return journey it stranded on an area called Adam’s Island, leading to the vessel breaking up.

An investigation last month into the incident found that fatigue was the biggest factor in the tragedy and that crew were not familiar with operating safety and communications equipment.

The inquest begins at the courthouse on Washington Street in Cork city at 10am and RTÉ reports that the one survivor of the tragedy, Egyptian national Abdelbaky Abdelgawad Mohamed is expected to give evidence.

Report: Fatigue biggest factor in Tit Bonhomme tragedy>
Read: President to pay tribute to lost fishermen>

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5 Comments
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    Mute 'Bull' Mick Daly
    Favourite 'Bull' Mick Daly
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    Feb 16th 2014, 3:48 PM

    How about money for flood defences here first or our homeless

    128
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    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
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    Feb 16th 2014, 3:50 PM

    In before the “look to our own” posts!

    15
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    Mute al shamen
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    Feb 16th 2014, 4:05 PM

    If European countries actually stopped donating aid money(especially already bankrupt Ireland) to Middle Eastern countries,it might actually put the onus on Middle Eastern countries to sort out their Middle Eastern problems instead of expecting outsiders to do it for them.

    101
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    Mute ipsum oleum
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    Feb 16th 2014, 4:24 PM

    Ireland is now top of the fur coat and no knickers league. Like a drunk in a pub buying rounds for all while his wife and kids sit in the cold and dark at home.

    104
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    Mute Marie Duggan
    Favourite Marie Duggan
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    Feb 16th 2014, 5:00 PM

    Bankrupting Europe,America ,is their aim.Then they have free rein,and power.

    20
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    Mute Some Feen
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    Feb 16th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Real meeting of the minds going on here in this thread

    13
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    Mute Stephen McShane
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    Feb 16th 2014, 3:50 PM

    Charity starts at home.

    81
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    Mute mart_n
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    Feb 16th 2014, 4:33 PM

    There’s a difference between charity and crisis relief / foreign development aid. If we want to live in a developed and progressive world then those with the ability and resources have an obligation to help poorer nations become developed.

    I know that not many will agree with or want to hear that, but ask yourselves this. If the money spent of development and relief was cancelled, do you seriously believe it would be spent on helping people here? Not a chance.. it’d be earmarked for paying back national debts instead. I’d sooner see my tax money going towards helping folk abroad, than on lining the pockets of foreign and already wealthy investors.

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    Mute Seanjohn O Connor
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    Feb 16th 2014, 4:51 PM

    I am sick of this government sending cash to other country’s ,this money is better spent in this country …we have umpteen people suffering here, has any other country come to our aid in the last few weeks…..none. Keep this cash in this country and fcuk all other third country’s all they do is buy arms for there needs & yes they spend billions on bullets & bombs .

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    Mute Elaine Donegan
    Favourite Elaine Donegan
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    Feb 17th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Here here!!!

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    Mute Sean Hyland
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    Feb 16th 2014, 5:55 PM

    Quatar, Saudi Arabia and the US are funding this war. Let them fund the humanitarian fall out… Totally 100%.

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Feb 16th 2014, 9:03 PM

    Where’s Quatar?

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Feb 16th 2014, 9:34 PM

    Sean, the US has provided $1.7 billion so far!
    http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/syria

    4
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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Feb 16th 2014, 8:04 PM

    Absolute disgrace handing out millions. This goverment does not represent the majority.

    29
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    Mute John Hartigan
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    Feb 16th 2014, 6:27 PM

    People need to protest. Fat cats giving our money away while we suffer with austerity handed out by them

    28
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    Mute Fearg Macd
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    Feb 16th 2014, 5:52 PM

    What a waste of government finds. The worst part of all is that it will end up in The pockets of some dictator and the people at large lack the education to realise that the West isn’t their enemy despite all of our charity.

    21
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    Mute Some Feen
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    Feb 16th 2014, 6:22 PM

    Haha, you actually think anyone else in the world knows we exist? Not the mention see us as part of the big bad western empire trying to take over the world?…. Back down the pub with you.

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    Mute Fearg Macd
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    Feb 16th 2014, 6:55 PM

    I live and work in Dubai and let me tell you something sunshine, the Irish presence here is formidable. One of the most influential in fact. We’re well known and respected across the region for our business acumen and achievement.
    I pity you for feeling so inferior…Now, back down the pub with YOU.

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    Mute john ferguson
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    Feb 16th 2014, 8:54 PM

    Stay where you are Frog Macd. Dubai will obviously collapse without your presence.

    11
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    Mute Fearg Macd
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    Feb 16th 2014, 9:19 PM

    Dubai has already collapsed once and been bailed out but you’re right, without expats, this place would still be an empty desert with no future.

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    Mute Elaine Donegan
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    Feb 17th 2014, 8:46 AM

    No without Dubai’s enormous oil reserve it would be dust and sand.
    Nothing to do with the expats, who can’t even hold hands with there partner because they aren’t married..
    Oil and religious laws is what has Dubai the way it is.

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    Mute Fearg Macd
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    Feb 17th 2014, 9:21 AM

    The money comes from the oil but the expertise to build the amazing skyline came by employing foreign, mainly western, engineers and architects. The locals often make a point of saying this themselves.

    We can hold hands,kiss and hug in public here in Dubai. Over 80% expats here and no sharia police. Where are you getting your information from may I ask?

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    Mute Some Feen
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    Feb 17th 2014, 1:03 PM

    Horrid place,,, built by slaves, full of brassers. An unsustainable, half built monstrosity of a town that will cease to exist in 20 years…

    See ya in the village Friday buddy!

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    Mute Fearg Macd
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    Feb 17th 2014, 2:05 PM

    True, true…Everyone sees it except the locals and the poor Bangladeshi labourers working in the mid day sun for 5$ a day ;-)

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    Mute Miss Filed
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    Feb 16th 2014, 4:47 PM

    They jerk the strings; the puppets jump!

    20
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    Mute Jay-D
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    Feb 17th 2014, 12:07 AM

    Its an absolute disgrace that you would begrudge these people the aid that they need. They’ve been driven from their homes by war. If you have a place to live and food to eat you are 1000 times better off than these people. Its not a matter of it “not being Ireland’s problem” its a matter of it being humanity’s problem, if the roles were reversed you’d be grateful of the aid. Its hard to believe that most people would want us to turn our back on fellow human beings in their hour of need.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Feb 17th 2014, 11:14 AM

    This is the problem with our country people like u the do gooders we have our own stuff to deal with you obviously
    Haven’t fallen on hard times I hope u never experience it, you might have a different opinion then

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Feb 16th 2014, 10:43 PM

    Not our problem in the end of the day we have enough problems here to be looking after like yes flood defences looking after the homeless pensioners if the shoe was on the other foot Id like to see if they would help us not a chance

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    Mute mart_n
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    Feb 16th 2014, 11:47 PM

    What do you want.. a shipment of commas?

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    Mute Karina Browne
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    Feb 17th 2014, 1:08 AM

    shocking to see what people have to say about this. We are a million times better off than these people even if we don’t have much and the fact that some would begrudge money being sent to help women, children and men that didn’t choose to end up like this is sick.

    7
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    Mute Elaine Donegan
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    Feb 17th 2014, 8:40 AM

    I’m sorry did I miss something here!!!!
    Are there not irish people still homeless in Ireland after the banks took there homes and the government are giving charity abroad???
    Are we thick in the head letting this happen..

    6
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    Mute Gaz DurkS
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    Feb 17th 2014, 4:34 AM

    Charity starts at home. .. give to the irish

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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Feb 18th 2014, 8:57 PM

    Leave it to the Gulf and Middle East…plenty of rich nations eg Qatar UAE that could donate! stop depending on the broken EU !

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