Collapsed Irish bridge was due for inspection
An Irish railway viaduct which collapsed into the sea was due to undergo a full inspection in October, it has been revealed.
The Malahide estuary crossing was scheduled to have its biennial assessment this autumn, according to Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail).
Moments after a rush hour train carrying hundreds of passengers passed over the viaduct, a 20-metre section of the bridge collapsed into the sea.
Train driver Keith Farrelly spotted subsidence on the track and all services were suspended, averted a possible tragedy.
A member of the public raised concerns at markings on piers on the Malahide Viaduct and over erosion to the piers four days before the incident, Iarnrod Eireann confirmed.
Spokesman Barry Kenny insisted that the firm responded quickly to the call from sea scout leader Ivan Barratt by having an engineer inspect the viaduct and its piers the following day.
He said: “This assessment identified that there were no visible structural issues, and that all markings were cosmetic.”
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