From the Irish Times:
The transfer of three crewmen from the Air Corps' Search and Rescue Service (SAR) was contrived to cover up their serious concerns about safety, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Justice Barry White granted leave to former SAR winch men Davitt Ward and Ciarán Murphy to seek to challenge their demotion to ground duties on the grounds they were unlawful and contrived. Similar leave has already been granted to a third crewman.
Mr Roddy Horan, counsel for both airmen, said that in the Air Corps Mr Murphy had been promoted to acting flight sergeant and Mr Ward had been promoted to acting corporal. He said that "following their demotions" their pay had been reduced by €16,000 and €5,000 respectively. Mr Ward told the court that while stationed at Finner Camp, Co Donegal, in July 2003 he had told his superiors he considered unsafe a new procedure whereby the hoist hook safety pin was to remain in position during rescue operations. This new practice went against all he had been taught in training and could possibly result in a hoist man or a survivor being injured or killed.
Prior to the issuing of this procedure it had been recommended practice to release the safety pin while in flight. He had told his superiors he was not prepared to adhere to the new directive from the Air Corps Flight Safety Section.
The new safety practice had been made "an order" but following the safety concerns, the removal of the safety pin had been left to the discretion of the winch man. Mr Murphy said that as a result of several demotions the unit was continuing SAR operations out of Sligo without a flight sergeant.
Mr Justice White adjourned the hearing until April 30th.
