Coroner calls for greater State support of Mayo Mountain Rescue
A CORONER has stressed the need for greater State funding for voluntary groups such as Mayo Mountain Rescue following the death of a sheep farmer admired by colleagues as 'King of the Mountain' because of his experience.
James Christopher (Christy) Gallagher, Killadoon, Louisburgh, died after tumbling 200 feet onto rocks on Mweelrea, Connaught's highest mountain, on July 30 last.
Along with four others, Vincent O'Malley, David O'Malley, Thomas O'Malley and Michael McGreal, the 51-year-old was involved in a sheep roundup when he fell and sustained a fractured skull.
The dead man's colleagues didn't witness the fall and were only alerted to an accident by the sight of his three dogs staring at the spot where their master had fallen.
Thomas O'Malley, who farms at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, told an inquest in Castlebar: “I could hear Christy working his dogs. My dogs were bringing down the sheep. Christy's dogs stood.
“I heard one shout. It didn't sound like an alarm, just maybe at the sheep. That was it then. The sheep had come down. I saw Christy's three dogs standing together looking down. The three dogs started going down the mountain. I looked up waiting for Christy to call them back.
“I was about to ring him to tell him to call the dogs back when I saw a blue thing. I didn't know what it was at first. When I got closer I realised it was Christy.'
After returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner, John O'Dwyer, said Mr. Gallagher's death was the second on Mweelrea in recent times.
“Mayo Mountain Rescue get little support,” Mr. O'Dwyer continued. “I understand they got €7,000 last year but paid out €9,000 for insurance. They should get better support from the State.'
Garda Inspector Denis Harrington concurred with the coroner's view that Mayo Mountain Rescue deserves better financial support.
“These volunteeers are an amazing group of people,” the inspector added. “We are lucky to have them in the Mayo area.”
Both the coroner and Inspector Harrington conveyed their deepest sympathy to the dead man's widow, Peggy, and family as well as his colleagues who were with him on the mountain when the tragedy occurred.