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Fisherman in boating tragedy offered aid to bereaved families

Richard Harman had donated money to help families of fishermen lost at sea, writes Mark Hilliard

Richard Harman, who was buried on Friday, was one of three men who lost their lives after an explosion on board the fishing boat 'Castaway' off the coast of Cork on Monday

The funeral of Richard Harman in Glengarriff on Friday

Schröder

Jarman

Schmidt

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ONE of the three men who died in last week's boating tragedy in Co Cork had donated significant amounts of money in the past to help the families of fishermen lost at sea.

Richard Harman, 69, who died following an explosion on the fishing boat Castaway off the Cork coast on Monday, was remembered as a central part of the community and as a man who valued people over possessions.

That tribute was borne out, say sources close to the family, by the fact that he had previously contributed prize money to the families of fishermen lost at sea from the east Cork fishing village of Castletownbere.

Harman was laid to rest on Friday just weeks before his 70th birthday. Among the mourners was American Edward Dziato, 46, the sole survivor of the onboard explosion that led to the death of Harman and two German men, Wolfgang 'Mike' Schmidt, 64, and Wolfgang Schröder, 60.

An investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy is continuing.

Dziato was praised by the community for trying to save the lives of his friends, who were pulled from the water by a coastguard helicopter just before 6pm last Monday.

A member of the community who attended Friday's service said: "It was sad but it was a really, really lovely service; the whole town was there and he was buried in Adrigole where he was originally from on the Beara peninsula. He moved to Glengarriff about 20 years ago."

Dziato, who was surrounded by well-wishers, was clearly affected by the trauma of the week.

"He was very shaken but everyone was so supportive to him. They rallied around him and obviously it's going to take a long time to get over it," said the mourner.

It is understood that a fire broke out on board the men's cruiser, which sparked an explosion, causing the vessel to sink.

Dziato was treated for minor injuries in hospital and was discharged on Tuesday morning. His wife said after the tragedy: "He has lost his best friends. He tried to save them all."

The American, who moved to Cork four years ago, has been assisting gardaí and the Marine Casualty Investigations Board (MCIB) to establish the circumstances that led to the death of three men.

During Harman's funeral at the Church of St Brendan the Navigator, the congregation was told it was a fitting end that he had died in Bantry Bay, an area he had loved all his life.

Schröder and Schmidt are to be cremated following a service in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Glengarriff tomorrow.