Inquest hears of drowning tragedy at Waterfoot
Thursday, 18 September 2008
A CUSHENDALL man, whose body was found on the Waterfoot shoreline, died after drowning in salt water, a coroner's court has heard.
An inquest into the death of 20-year-old Liam McKeegan, of Kilnadore Brae, was held in Coleraine on Thursday, September 11.
He died on July 29, 2007, after going out to sea on a boat belonging to a local fishing company in the early hours of the morning.
A passing coach driver spotted his fully clothed body lying near a derelict jetty on the beach at around 1pm.
Coleraine based Detective Inspector Sean Fitzpatrick, told the court that CCTV captured Liam's last known movements, when he was spotted at the bridge in Cushendall, walking towards Waterfoot in the early hours of July 29.
Two potential witnesses, who may have heard cries for help coming from the water, never came forward, despite a concerted police effort.
Trevor Craig told the court that he was walking his dogs on Waterfoot beach on Sunday, July 29, when he struck up conversation with two males who had been camping on the beach.
The pair told Mr Craig that they heard cries for help coming from a boat during the night. One man tried to swim out towards the boat, but was forced to turn back due to the currents.
Liam's brother Paul told the court that he last seen his brother on the bridge in Cushendall and at the time "he was getting drunk."
He said it was a nice, calm evening, and although Liam had been out on a boat before, and was able to swim, he would not have known how to operate a boat himself.
A number of witnesses who saw Liam before his death, said they had noticed nothing unusual about his behaviour.
Paul Kane McAuley, who had been at a disco in the An Caman bar, said he saw Liam alone outside the bar, between 12.30am-1am.
“I spoke to him for about 15 minutes. He was quite drunk but he seemed his usual self. I have known him from primary school. I went back in then and I never saw him again," he said.
William Abernathy told the court that he saw Liam after 12.30am outside the Curfew Tower in Cushendall, where he was sitting alone drinking. He bought Liam food from the near-by chippy, and said "he seemed his usual self."
Gareth Robinson, an employee of the fishing company who owned the boat taken by Liam, said he had arrived in Waterfoot on Sunday, July 29 at 8.30am to begin work when he realised the boat was missing.
The boat was later recovered two miles away. Gareth was lowered by a rope over rocks onto the boat in order to help tow it back to shore.
He said he found two jackets on the boat but he threw them into the sea. When the boat was taken back to the pier it could not be started as there was no petrol left in the tank.
In the post-mortem report, it was stated that Liam was a healthy young man, whose death was due to drowning in salt water.
“There was no marks of violence. There was abrasions on his face and scalps, and bruises to both eyebrows, consistent with having been in the water, but these played no part in the fatal outcome.
“At the time of death there was alot of alcohol in his body, and at the very least, he would have been moderately intoxicated to a degree that would have produced unco-ordination and unsteadiness."
Coroner Ms Suzanne Anderson concluded that Liam had died due to drowning in salt water, while mildly intoxicated.
“This was a tragic end to the life of a young man and I extend my sympathy to his family and friends," she said.
