The families of those killed in the Whiddy Island Disaster are calling on the government to take urgent action.
50 people lost their lives in 1979 when a French oil tanker exploded as it was discharging its cargo at the island's oil terminal in Bantry Bay.
7 Irish, 1 British, 1 Dutch and 42 French people died from the incident.
The families of the victims want a state apology,
a root and branch review of how Ireland implements international maritime regulations, and
for the cause of death on the victims' Death Certificates to be changed to 'Unlawful death'.
The Vice-President of the the French-Irish Association of Relatives and Friends of the Betelgeuse, Michael Kingston, whose father Tim was killed in the tragedy told RedFM News what they need from the government:
"My father, Tim Kingston, was an Oil Pollution Control Officer working for Gulf Oil. He went on duty on Sunday, the 7th of January 1979, with six other Irish workers. The Betelgeuse oil tanker was discharging her cargo. At 12:30 that night, a fire started. The tanker ultimately exploded. We are requesting a State Apology for the victims, their families, the workers, the Rescue Services who were put into perilous danger, people of Whiddy Island, the residents and people of Bantry and West Cork."
