Recently the commemoration took place of the Whiddy Island oil disaster in Bantry Bay, County Cork. On 8 January 1979, around 1:00 am, when the oil tanker Betelgeuse exploded at the oil refinery on the Island, The explosion and resulting fire claimed the lives of 50 people. The first reporter on the scene was Tom McSweeney who spoke to Donie Tarrant about his recollections of that day, Donie began by asking him if, as he was dispatched to Bantry, if he had any idea what awaited him.

Broadcast: 18/01/2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:09 — 12.6MB)

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