An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | BY CPO/ERA RUAIRÍ DE BARRA, NAVAL SERVICE T he loss of loved one is one of the most tragic experiences which can befall a family. If that loved one is not recovered, then the grieving process can be made all the more difficult on those left behind. There is in Cork, a dedicated team of volun- teers who have since their foundation provided hundreds of fami- lies with the solace of having their loved one returned to them. Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery Unit (CCMPSAR) only has thirteen members, yet with a diverse skill set and a dedica- tion which is humbling, this small professional unit provide a ser- vice which is of immeasurable value to bereft families. Founded by 2001 by David Linehan after the loss of his father, this all volunteer charitable group has grown over the years. It has recused persons in distressed successfully, however its primary focus has being the search and recovery hundreds of others. The current Chairperson is Edwin O'Sullivan, who is a solider with the Defence Forces he has volunteered with the unit for many years in an effort he says to "Give back to the community. Through using my skills as a diver in the Army Dive Group and my RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) operations experience." Primarily focused on the river Lee, they have also been involved in land searches, searches on other bodies of water and rivers, and they even send RHIB coxns to Blacksod Bay to assist in searching for the wreckage of Rescue 116, which was tragically lost in March 2016. Edwin says "CCMPSAR co- operate and liaise with the emergency services, Coastguard and Civil Defence, and many others." Over the course of any given year An Garda Síochána receives thousands of reports of suspected missing people. Each case is treated with the same amount of seriousness, and An Gardaí follow strict guidelines and procedures that help ensure that the searches are conducted efficiently and effectively. Often a family member will contact the unit directly and there is a contact number avail- able on the unit's social media. "We are here to help. We will try our very best. It is never easy, and searches can take days out on the river and walking the banks," says Edwin. Technology and Training: Another Defence Forces member involved in the unit is David O'Leary, a Petty Officer Radio & Radar Technician who is also a member of the elite Naval Service Diving Section. Involved with the Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) section of the Navy, he brings a highly specialised skill set to the CCMPSR unit. Recently they have purchased a BlueROV II, a sophisticated piece of equipment, customisable by the end user and is available off the shelf. Assembled in his workshop, it has put excellent ROV capabilities into the affordability range of this group, who rely on donations to keep providing the searches which can go long after statutory bodies may have to scale down or redeploy resources elsewhere. "I felt that I could bring my diving and ROV experience to the unit. It's an opportunity for me to give back to my community," says David, who joined CCMPSAR after he returned from a deployment on 'Operation Pontus' off the coast of Libya in 2016. Having experienced high tempo rescue operations there and having been involved with many search and recovery opera- tions all over Ireland with the Naval Service. "I am the Training and Development Officer now, so with new items of equipment such as the ROV being introduced. I will create and run courses on it, so that is capabilities can be maximised and the knowledge shared with all the other volunteers." Given the often-dangerous sub surface conditions and the physical and psychological challenges involved in diving in the fast moving and extremely low visibility river, the unit needs to ensure that the safety of the divers is paramount at all times. Therefore, training is a big part of the unit. Joining the unit was also seen as a way for Karl O'Mahoney to help out, after he saw the units work on Facebook. Karl says, "David Linehan and David Varian sat and spoke with me, I offered what- ever skills and experience I had to them. They invited me to come on-board and I'm there nearly four years now." Karl is also a Petty Officer with the Naval Service, who has extensive experience overseas in the co-ordination of complex multi vessel rescues of migrant craft in distress. "I am a communications specialist and GMDSS instructor" Fr. Des Campion Naval Chaplin blessed 'The Nora Flynn', with members of the Flynn family present. CCMPSAR RHIB on patrol and ROV ready to deploy from shore.

• Cover