15,000 crabs bound for Portugal almost make a getaway following crash in Donegal

McLaughlin's Light and Heavy Recovery Services successfully completed one of the most unusual recovery operations in the company's history, retrieving up to 95% of an estimated 15,000 crabs following a single-vehicle crash in Redcastle.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30am on Monday, January 13, when a lorry operated by a Portuguese transport company carrying the valuable cargo crashed into a ditch on the R238 road between Quigley's Point and Moville at Carrickmaquigley, Redcastle. The crustaceans, valued at approximately €60,000, had been caught by local Inishowen fishermen and were en route to shops and restaurants in Portugal.

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When the containers spilt, thousands of crabs escaped into the surrounding field, prompting an immediate response from McLaughlin's recovery team. Donegal County Council closed the road to facilitate what would become an 18-hour recovery operation extending well into the night.

“It was a very unusual scene to say the least,” said Odhran McLaughlin of McLaughlin's Light and Heavy Recovery Services. “When we arrived, a lot of the crabs had spilt out of their containers and were making a bid for freedom into the fields. A team of up to ten of us had to physically retrieve the crabs and put them into large bags and reload them onto the truck. It took a good few hours to fill the bags.”

The complex operation required specialised equipment, including hydraulic cranes to recover both the lorry cab and container, as well as industrial nightlights to allow workers to continue the painstaking work of sifting through and bagging the crabs after darkness fell.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the McLaughlin's team successfully retrieved approximately 95% of the cargo, ensuring minimal loss for the fishermen and transport company involved. The driver escaped injury in the incident.

The story captured national attention, with coverage from RTÉ, BBC, and other major news outlets highlighting both the unusual nature of the incident and the successful recovery operation.

McLaughlin's Light and Heavy Recovery Services, based in Burnfoot, specialises in both light and heavy vehicle recovery throughout Donegal and the Northwest region. The company provides 24/7 emergency response services for accidents, breakdowns, and specialist recovery operations.