Buncrana: Car pulled from pier tragedy scene last August

In August 2015, Greg Hanna was launching a boat into Lough Swilly from the same pier when his car lost control on the algae

A scuba diver has told how his car had to be pulled from the water in the Republic of Ireland in 2015, at the same spot where a family died last weekend.

Five members of the family drowned when their car slipped off the pier in Buncrana, County Donegal, on Sunday.

A baby girl was saved by a passer-by moments before the car sank.

The local authority responsible for the pier said it will review the situation when the facts are established.

The victims of Sunday's tragedy were Ruth Daniels, 57, her daughter Jodie Lee Daniels, 14, Sean McGrotty, 49, and his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight.

The victims were, from left, Mark McGrotty, 12 and Evan McGrotty, 8, Sean McGrotty, 49, Ruth Daniels, 57, and Jodie Lee Daniels, 14

Greg Hanna told the BBC that last August he was launching a boat into Lough Swilly from the same pier when his car slipped on the algae.

The man who towed Mr Hanna's vehicle from the water revealed that he too lost his car at the same spot three weeks previously.

Mr Hanna explained what happened.

"When we got to Lough Swilly, we put on our dry suits and began to reverse the boat on the trailer down the slipway," he said.

The car, which belonged to Mr Hanna, was being driven by his friend, as he shouted directions from outside it.

"I asked him to stop when the wheels of the trailer touched the water, which is normal.

"He stopped, but the car started to slip. It was out of control and just by chance it stopped with the back wheels in the water.

"It was nearly up to the boot."

'Skating rink'

Fortunately the boat had broken free from the trailer, which reduced the weight of the pull and gave the men time to put their diving weight belts under the wheels.

People left floral tributes at Buncrana pier after hearing of the deaths of five family members

"That helped to slow it down but we still slipped 10 or 11 metres," said Mr Hanna.

"The trailer was almost submerged. We thought we would lose the car."

Mr Hanna said the slipway was akin to a skating rink.

"The slime up there is a seaweed algae on the top, but there's about an inch of sand underneath it, so when the car wheels start spinning on it, it creates a slush that's lethally slippery as we found out," he said.

The Irish Coastguard launched a major search and rescue operation on Sunday night

Mr Hanna, an experienced diver of 19 years and the former regional coach of the British Sub-Aqua club in Ireland, explained that the Buncrana pier slipway is unlike conventional harbour slipways that gently slope down to the seabed.

Steep drop

"At the water's edge there's a ledge, which is probably designed to prevent the car ferry's hull hitting the bottom of the slipway."

The steep drop is not visible from land.

Mr Hanna said it was a tragic "wake up call" about the dangers of piers and harbours

On seeing Mr Hanna's difficulties unfold, a local man came to his aid and towed his car from the water using a 4x4 vehicle.

Following the rescue, the man told Mr Hanna that he had lost his own car in the same way three weeks previously.

Warning signs

The diver said that there were no signs warning of the danger and the barrier that does exist is locked in the upright position against a wall.

He said hard questions will be asked of Donegal County Council.

"It's a wake-up call about the dangers of harbours and piers.

"Normally they're good facilities if they're maintained. If you put soap powder from a washing machine on it, it'll kill the algae and be washed off."

He suggested that the pier should be cordoned off if it is not properly maintained and that policies need to be put in place to prevent future tragedies.

In a statement, Donegal County Council offered condolences to the family and said that when "the facts surrounding this unfortunate tragedy are established, the council will review them and determine if any specific measures need to be taken."

The funerals of those who died will take place in Londonderry on Thursday.

Teddy bears were also left at the scene of the tragedy