Families deserve to know all the facts...

TD says independent inquiry should be held into Ironman tragedy

- DANNY DE VAAL, LARISSA NOLAN and OLIVIA KELLEHER

CALLS were growing last night for an independent inquiry following the deaths of two men at Sunday’s Ironman event. 

It comes as a war of words broke out between Ironman and Triathlon Ireland over who sanctioned the swim to go ahead due to the treacherous conditions on Claycastle Beach in Youghal, Co Cork.

Meath man Brendan Wall, who was recently engaged, and Ivan Chittenden from Canada both died in separate incidents during the swim section of the race.

Triathlon Ireland, the governing body for triathlons, said they had told race organisers before the event that they could not sanction it due to adverse weather.

They said last night: “Due to adverse conditions on the day, before the start of the race Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials confirmed to the race organisers that it was not possible to sanction the race.”

But Ironman last night staunchly defended their decision to allow the race to go ahead and claimed they were only told the race would not be sanctioned “several hours” after the swim had been completed.