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Thanks to Áine Phelan for drawing my attention to this memorial New Ross, Co. Wexford (Location 2) Two Tugmen Perish This memorial is on the old road to Waterford from New Ross. Turn left off the N25 about a mile and a half from the bridge in New Ross for the beginning of this road. The following account can be found in the archives of the Irish Examiner: http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/03/11/ihead.htm John Leacy (40) and Michael Aspel (38), both from New Ross, Co. Wexford, drowned when the tug, the New Ross I, overturned while helping an oil tanker to berth at Great Island Jetty, Co. Wexford, on August 8, 1995. The New Ross, owned by the Port of New Ross, and another tug, the Oystermaster, which was more than twice its size, were helping the oil tanker, Grizzly, to berth at the time of the accident. The New Ross was instructed to keep the Grizzly's stern out from the jetty but when repositioning itself to do so, the wash from the tanker destabilised the tug. The small workboat flipped over without warning, knocking Mr Aspel into the sea and trapping Mr Leacy inside the wheelhouse. The tug was almost always used for pushing rather than towing and it was felt there was inadequate discussion before the berthing as to what function the New Ross would perform. Photos © 2002 Jerry Cremin {[irishroadside][dot][com]}