AN Irishman drowned when a tourist ship sank off the coast of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, an inquest ruled yesterday.

The owner of a dinner cruise boat that capsized in late March, killing 58 people, has pleaded innocent to charges of involuntary manslaughter.

THE owner of a dinner boat that capsized off Bahrain's coast, killing 58 people, was detained yesterday on allegations he ordered the vessel to sail even though it was unsteady and had no licence to take to sea.

An Irish construction worker based in Bahrain was among those who died when a dinner-cruise boat capsized on Thursday night.

Colleagues tonight paid tribute to the Irish man who drowned when a tourist boat sank off the coast of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.