Coroner rules young journalist swept away by wave in West Cork 50 years ago drowned

FIFTY years after he was washed out to sea by a freak wave on the west Cork coast, the family of young journalist, David McCall, finally received official confirmation that their loved one had died at Pollack Rock near Rosscarbery in 1974.

The family of the late Mr McCall had obtained permission required from the Minster for Justice for an inquest to be held, even though a body had never been recovered.

The inquest into the death of Mr McCall was held at Clonakilty Court by West Cork Coroner Frank O’Connell.

Mr McCall, who was a journalist with the Southern Star newspaper, had travelled to Owenahincha beach near Rosscarbery to spend the St Patrick’s weekend 1974 with three friends, John Coughlan, Michael Ryan and Garry Galvin, at Mr Coughlan’s family holiday home.

Mr McCall was lodging at an address at Uam Var Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, at the time and was 21 years old.

John Coughlan and Michael Ryan both travelled in person to attend the inquest, and Mr Galvin, who now lives in Oxfordshire in England, sent a letter to the inquest. 

Also in attendance were Mr McCall’s brother Brian and sister Mary.

Inquest

The inquest heard that on the morning of March 18, 1974, the four friends decided to take a walk along the rocky shore between Owenahincha and Rosscarbery. Mr McCall and Mr Ryan walked out to Pollack Rock, a rocky headland, while Mr Coughlan and Mr Galvin took the nearby cliff path about 50 yards away.

In his statement read to the inquest, Mr Ryan said that the sea was “strong enough” but not stormy and there was a stiff breeze, but nothing unusual for the coast in that area.

He said that there was a gully behind them with a 15 to 20 foot drop to the rocks and water below.

Mr Ryan said: “Dave and myself saw a big wave or a freak wave coming in. We could see it from a distance and I realised it was bigger than the other waves, a rogue wave”. 

“I remember seeing Dave with his arms in the air, as the wave broke on the rock. The wash and spray soaked us. Next thing Dave was gone backwards into the gully. All I saw was Dave in the gully. He was being turned and twisted with the strength of the wash in the sea.”

Watching from the shore about 50 yards away Mr Coughlan said he saw the wave hit his two friends and Mr McCall raising his arms, but when the spray had cleared only Mr Ryan was left standing on the rock.

Disappeared

Mr Coughlan, who had completed a Red Cross lifesaving course, immediately jumped into the sea to try to save his friend but soon lost sight of him in the tide and eventually had to return to shore.

Mr Ryan said that he saw Mr McCall’s body face down in the water before he disappeared.

Despite an extensive search by local volunteers, RNLI and Coastguard units, Mr McCall’s body was never recovered and no death certificate was ever issued.

Mr O’Connell said the evidence was compelling that David McCall had died at Pollack Rock on March 18, 1974.

He returned a verdict of accidental death due to drowning as a result of Mr McCall being swept into the sea.

He extended his sympathy to the McCall family and said that he hoped that the inquest at least could give them some closure after so many years.