{"url":"https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/his-hand-was-black-and-blue-from-hitting-the-door-thats-how-hard-he-fought-to-get-out-says-daughter-of-man-who-died-in-pier-tragedy/a523869093.html","title":"Daughter: Dad's hand black and blue in pier death fight","domain":"independent.ie","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/32437427/pexels-photo-32437427.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"pier car accident","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"e08f7e02","id":"e08f7e02-a4a1-4b5d-a859-dccecc6b9bd8","description":"Joachim McNulty died when his car slipped on algae at Belderrig Pier into the sea.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Joachim McNulty** died when his car slipped on algae at **Belderrig Pier** into the sea.\n- Daughter **Joanna McNulty** saw his **hand black and blue** from desperate fight to escape.\n- Family campaigns for pier safety upgrades nationwide to prevent repeats.\n\n## The story at a glance\n**Joachim McNulty**, a **64-year-old** farmer and fisherman from **Belderrig**, **Co Mayo**, died on **February 18, 2026**, after his car slid on an algae-covered slipway at **Belderrig Pier** and plunged into the water. His daughter **Joanna McNulty** described his final call to wife **Geraldine** at **8.06pm**, reporting trouble and requesting help, followed by a fierce but futile struggle to exit the vehicle. The article highlights **Joanna**'s push for urgent maintenance, lighting, signage, and barriers at piers after this preventable tragedy.\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- **Joachim McNulty** visited **Belderrig Pier** daily as a lifelong fisherman familiar with the spot for over **40 years**.\n- Around **8.05pm on February 18, 2026**, he called wife **Geraldine** saying he was in difficulty and needed daughter **Joanna**'s help.\n- **Geraldine** called back at **8.07pm** but got no answer; car already submerged.\n- **Joanna** arrived **10 minutes later**, saw neighbours with flashlights spotting the car in water.\n- Local man attempted rescue but failed; emergency services, coastguard, and **Gráinne Uaile Sub-Aqua Club** responded.\n- Car recovered at **11.45pm** after waiting for tide; **Joachim** found inside, **hand black and blue** from hitting door, handbrake fully engaged.\n\n## Signature highlights\n- **Joachim McNulty**, **64**, born in **Belderrig**, farmer, husband to **Geraldine** over **30 years**, father to **Joanna**, grandfather to **Fiadh**; visited pier evenings for fishing and chats.\n- Pier issues: moss/algae build-up despite prior complaints at **Belderrig**, **Killala**, **Frenchport**, **Belmullet**; poor lighting, no barriers, no regular cleaning; slipway uncleaned **2+ weeks** post-incident.\n- Rescue delayed by high tide and hazardous surface—even divers slipped.\n- Community support: neighbours, priest waited **4 hours**; widespread grief in tight-knit fishing village.\n- **Joanna**'s petition on Change.org ('Ensure safety reforms at Piers nationwide') nears **1,000 signatures**.\n- Political response: **Cllr Michael Loftus**'s motion for **Mayo County Council** maintenance plan on **26-28 piers**; **Sen Mark Duffy** seeks national standards, barriers.\n\n## Key quotes\n- “**His hand was black and blue from hitting the door, that’s how hard he fought to get out**,” says **Joanna McNulty**.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/his-hand-was-black-and-blue-from-hitting-the-door-thats-how-hard-he-fought-to-get-out-says-daughter-of-man-who-died-in-pier-tragedy/a523869093.html)\n- “**Dad's hand was black and blue when we got his body back. He put up a desperate fight to get out of that car**,” **Joanna McNulty**.[[2]](https://www.independent.ie/videos/irish-news/dads-hand-was-black-and-blue-when-we-got-his-body-back-he-put-up-a-desperate-fight-to-get-out-of-that-car/a605011478.html)\n- “**If that moss and algae weren’t there, his handbrake would have saved him**,” **Joanna McNulty**.[[3]](https://www.independent.ie/regionals/mayo/news/if-that-moss-and-algae-werent-there-his-handbrake-would-have-saved-him-daughter-of-man-in-fatal-pier-accident-calls-for-action/a2104802054.html)\n- “**My father cannot have lost his life in vain**,” **Joanna McNulty**.[[4]](https://www.mayonews.ie/news/ballina/2034315/my-father-cannot-have-lost-his-life-in-vain-mayo-family-call-for-urgent-action.html)\n\n## Why it matters\nPreventable pier accidents like this claim lives despite known hazards like algae, echoing **Buncrana Pier** tragedy **10 years ago**. Readers in coastal areas face risks fishing, swimming, or boating without maintenance; families endure trauma, communities lose pillars. Watch **Mayo County Council**'s response, petition progress, and potential national safety standards.","hashtags":["#ireland","#mayo","#safety","#tragedy","#fishing","#piers"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/his-hand-was-black-and-blue-from-hitting-the-door-thats-how-hard-he-fought-to-get-out-says-daughter-of-man-who-died-in-pier-tragedy/a523869093.html","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.independent.ie/videos/irish-news/dads-hand-was-black-and-blue-when-we-got-his-body-back-he-put-up-a-desperate-fight-to-get-out-of-that-car/a605011478.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.independent.ie/regionals/mayo/news/if-that-moss-and-algae-werent-there-his-handbrake-would-have-saved-him-daughter-of-man-in-fatal-pier-accident-calls-for-action/a2104802054.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.mayonews.ie/news/ballina/2034315/my-father-cannot-have-lost-his-life-in-vain-mayo-family-call-for-urgent-action.html","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-05T06:02:57.657Z","createdAt":"2026-04-05T06:02:57.657Z","articlePublishedAt":null}