The mother of a woman who drowned in Leitrim last year is calling on Water Ways Ireland to conduct a safety review of river jetties.
Aoife Kearney tragically drowned in the Leitrim Village Marina on Sunday the 23rd of August 2020 while holidaying in the area with her fiancee and his family.
In an emotional statement during the inquest into the death of the Drogheda woman, Aoife's fiancee Keith Caffery described her as a kind, caring and confident woman.
The 32-year-old was a Clinical Nurse Specialist in St Francis Hospice Raheny and was due to get married next year.
In August 2020, Aoife and her Fiancee Keith travelled from Drogheda to Lough Key Forest Park where they joined Keith's family for a boat trip to Leitrim Village.
Early the following morning, Aoife was discovered in the water unresponsive, having left the boat a short time earlier.
Despite immediate attempts at administering CPR from family members and emergency services, Aoife was pronounced dead later that morning.
At yesterday's inquest in Carrick on Shannon Court House, an open verdict was given by Sligo/Leitrim Coroner Mr Fergal T Kelly of asphyxiation due to freshwater drowning.
A statement read on behalf of Operations Engineer Darren O'Kane with Waterways Ireland, concluded that all Waterways Ireland equipment and infrastructure at the Leitrim Village Marina was in working order following an inspection after the incident.
Following the deposition from Waterways Ireland, Aoife's mother Miriam Kearney highlighted a need for barriers along the end of the marina jetties.
In response, a Waterways Ireland representative concluded that while such railings could present other safety concerns, the issue would be sent to the Safety review board of the water management body for consideration.
