80th anniversary of World War II mine disaster that killed 19 to be marked next week

It may have happened 80 years ago next Wednesday, May 10 but the sadness and sense of loss following the Ballymanus Mine Disaster still resonates throughout the Rosses and beyond.

No one ever thought anyone here would suffer the effects of World War II in this terrible way. It was one of the major tragedies of the war for a neutral country, and perhaps the least documented

Apart from those who had for one reason or another decided to become involved, the conflict which was raging throughout Europe was, for the most part, something that was happening 'over there.'

Of course, there was the odd incident, incursion, or airplane crash and the continuous flow of wreckage was being washed up on the shoreline of our coast but the bombs and bullets were far far away and particularly well removed from a tiny Mullaghduff community nestled between Kincasslagh and Annagry in West Donegal.

That all changed however when a floating mine obviously left somewhere off our coast as part of a marine strategy in someone's naval policy, drifted or had its course altered by a sea current away from an intended target to an unintended area, namely between Mullaghdearg Point and Braade Strand.

It is understood the unusual object was reported to Annagry garda sergeant Frank Allen around 6.45pm that Monday evening but the area was not cordoned off. The matter was passed on to the lieutenant in the local marine service, Morgan Dunleavy, who went to Ballymanus Strand shortly afterward. The mine was more than a mile offshore at this time. According to onlookers it bobbed in and out near the rocks for a while leading many to believe it was harmless.

Curiosity

Naturally, such a curiosity attracted attention and it is reported that around 23 young men from the locality went to the scene to investigate the object. They said the mine was approximately 8 ft. high and with some of its spikes bent owing to being crushed against the waves and rocks.

Lieutenant Dunleavy is said to have warned a group of men present on the strand to stay away. Some did, some didn't. He waited there for more than two hours until the mine came ashore and again warned those present to stay away from it.

The official record states that when the lieutenant left the site at 9.50pm to report the matter to his ordnance officer some of the people gathered on the shore tied a rope around the already bent spikes and an attempt was made to haul the object closer to the shore. They paid a high price for their curiosity.

The mine subsequently exploded around 10pm killing 17 men at the scene while two others died in hospital the following day.

The 19 ranged in age from 13 to 34. Five others were injured. It was claimed the noise from the explosion could be heard up to 40 miles away.

Those who died at the scene were; Owen Gallagher (21), Patrick Gallagher (18), Dominick Gallagher (26), brothers from Rannyhual; Joseph Harley (17), Owen Harley (13), brothers from Rannyhual; Anthony Rodgers (33), Rannyhual, James Rodgers, Rannyhual, John Rotary (18), John McGinley, (18) Edward Gallagher (21), Michael Sharkey (15), all from Mullaghduff; Hugh Duffy (17) and his brother James (18) from Braade; Manus O’Donnell (16), John Sharkey (15), from Braade, and John Boyle (16), Ballymanus. The other two victims John Joseph Carson (16), died the following day and Anthony Sharkey (15), died around a week later in hospital.

The seriously injured were Patrick Boyle and James Boyle, Ballymanus, Hugh Sharkey, Braade and Dan Boyle, Mullaghduff, all of who have since passed on. Eleven of the deceased were buried in Kincasslagh and the other eight were laid to rest in Annagry cemetery.

Harrowing scenes

To this day, people from the locality can recall the harrowing scenes that confronted relatives who rushed to the beach when news of the tragedy spread. Marks on rocks that were scarred by the blast are even visible to this day.

It has always been believed locally that the tragedy could have been averted had the local authorities followed the correct procedures relating to the clearance of mines. Despite persistent calls, no formal investigation into the tragedy has ever taken place.

Locals felt let down by the clergy. One was reportedly wielding a blackthorn stick at the wake in Mullaghduff Hall and told grieving mothers to be quiet and stop crying.

The National Archives show that an inquest was held the day after the event with Letterkenny doctor JP McGinley presiding. Consideration was given at the time to hold an inquiry into the matter.

It seems from the file that there was little local demand for such an inquiry at the time. In fact, it was noted that a number of local representatives were of the view that nothing would be gained from one.

Documentation shows that the then-local TD Cormac Breslin and clergyman Canon McAteer opposed the holding of an inquiry for fear it would embarrass the community if it were known some actually towed the mine in from the sea to the shore.

A meeting of local clergy apparently also came to the same conclusion. The decision not to hold an inquiry was approved at the highest level by the then Minister for Justice Gerald Boland five days after the disaster and a day after the funerals of the 19 victims but locals were not told of that until later.

Another report on file states that a meeting of the next-of-kin of the deceased was held on May 24 and that they decided unanimously that no demand be made for an inquiry.

Inquiry

The Departments of Defence and Justice also came to the conclusion that an inquiry would not serve any useful purpose. The coroner was informed that no official inquiry was proposed and the inquest was reconvened on May 28 even though the decision had already been made at the Government level.

Another report on file from the Garda superintendent in the area states that Sergeant Allen had failed to go to the scene before the explosion and that no attempt was made by him to cordon off the area.

It appears this had become the occasion of bad feelings in the district and that there might already have been ill feelings between the sergeant and certain members of the community.

The verdict of the inquest was that the deaths were caused by the explosion of the mine and the jury added riders to their verdict which stated that the disaster could have been avoided if Sergeant Allen had cordoned off the area in the immediate vicinity of the mine until the arrival of the military. He was transferred out of the area the day after the disaster and never seen there again. There was disagreement in the jury as to whether the lieutenant of the coast-watching service was negligent and it was the jury's opinion that the military authorities should be asked to establish a coast-watching post in the vicinity of Ballymanus.

Local man Owenie Sharkey, now deceased, escaped death by deciding to go for tea to a neighbouring house just minutes before the blast. In an interview prior to his passing, he recalled being one of the first back at the scene where he found the bodies of his friends strewn all over the place.

"The scene on the beach that evening was just one of total devastation. Shattered bodies, some of which were nearly beyond recognition, lay everywhere, while many more people lay injured or maimed.

“It was a terrible site to see parents, brothers and sisters finding their loved ones among the dead. Many of my friends, with whom I had been running around 10 minutes earlier, were lying dead all over the place.

“We just did what we could for those badly injured and it was days later before the full effect of what happened really sank in," he said.

Documentary

A documentary on the Ballymanus explosion was named Best Documentary following its debut showing at the Vienna Independent Film Festival in September last year: https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=--24WOr4UAw

It has been shown in many venues all over the world and also helps to preserve the memory of many of those involved.

It is no secret that many in the area would like the authorities to examine the verdict of the inquest and decide whether an apology should be issued based on that or at least some explanation offered regarding some ownership of responsibility as it might serve to bring some sort of closure.

The families affected want the onus of responsibility to be shared by the State given that a total of 15 mines were washed ashore in Donegal that year - two in Lough Swilly the same day - and 14 made safe by the authorities, Ballymanus being the exception.

They also ask who owned the mine, where did it come from, why procedures were not followed properly and why, after 80 years, are the families and the community in general still waiting for answers?

Rosary at the monument

A Rosary will be held at the Ballymanus Mine Disaster monument at Mullaghderg next Wednesday, May 10 at 7.30pm to mark the 80th anniversary of this tragic event. Everyone welcome.