Probe ordered into Derry Airport closure
An independent inquiry into the four day closure of City of Derry Airport over safety concerns was ordered tonight.
Derry City Council, which owns the airport, announced the inquiry and said it wanted a swift investigation and a published report.
It was a major embarrassment for the council when the Civil Aviation Authority ordered the airport closure last Thursday following an audit of safety standards.
The airport is an important regional hub connecting the north west of Ireland - both sides of the border - with Dublin and the UK.
After a frantic Bank Holiday weekend of activity the airport was allowed to reopen for business today. All services and package holiday operators were back to normal with the exception of Ryanair flights which resume tomorrow.
Unsatisfactory repairs to an aircraft parking area and the lack of an effective bird control plan forced the closure.
Contractors put things right including placing netting over ponds and culverts in the airport precincts.
Announcing the establishment of the inquiry, council chief executive Tony McGurk, expressed the regret at the temporary closure and the inconvenience it caused to large numbers of people and businesses.
He said: ``More than ever, recent events have demonstrated that City of Derry Airport is an essential part of the regional infrastructure.
``The airport is now fully operational. Safety is and will remain our number one priority. Therefore we are setting up an independent inquiry and review to examine the events and circumstances that led to the suspension of the CAA licence, amongst other issues.''
Mr McGurk said terms of reference for the inquiry were in the process of being drafted and the council envisaged appointing experts within the next few days - with a short time frame to deliver a report which would be made public.
