Tragic Drowning in Kimmage Quarry

In a heart-wrenching incident at the Kimmage quarry, 11-year-old William Murphy of 85 Devenish Road, Kimmage, drowned after a makeshift raft overturned on Sunday. The tragedy unfolded when Murphy and two companions, John McKenna (also 11, of 81 Devenish Road) and William Farrell of 59 Stannaway Road, pushed a signboard into the flooded quarry and used it as a raft.

As they attempted to cross the quarry, which ranges from 12 to 14 feet deep, McKenna slipped, causing the raft to overturn. Murphy became trapped beneath the signboard. Edward Rath of 21 Larkfield Gardens heard the children’s screams and swam out, managing to rescue McKenna. Farrell clung to the overturned raft until he was saved. Despite the rescue efforts, Murphy’s body was later recovered from 25 feet of water.

Dr. MacErlean, the City Coroner, delivered a verdict of accidental death during the inquest held at the Meath Hospital. He noted that adequately protecting the quarry would require a ten or twelve-foot wall due to its inherent dangers. Gardaí testified to the perilous nature of the quarry, even for seasoned swimmers, and highlighted that Murphy had previously been seen on a raft there two weeks prior. His mother had intervened, bringing him home. Another boy was reportedly rescued from the same quarry just the previous Sunday night.

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