Appeal for volunteers to search shore for bodies of missing men

ALL available resources are to be focused into an intensive shore search in Waterford this weekend as it is more likely the bodies of missing fishermen may wash ashore on those days.

“A body comes to the surface after eight to nine days depending on the temperature,” said Eamon O’Neill, a long-time friend of Honeydew II skipper Ger Bohan.

“It happens because the body releases gases which bring it up for a time and then it sinks again and the same thing happens at approximately 21 days.”

He said the coordinators of the overall search were still discussing how the massive shore trawl would be carried out but he appealed for anyone who would be available to travel to Dunmore East to take part in the shore search to contact their local harbour office.

Mr O’Neill said Ger Bohan’s wife was disappointed yesterday because she had hoped the remains of the boat might have been found. Yesterday, 26 trawlers were out searching as well as garda and naval dive teams ready to go down to it “like a shot” if the wreck was located.

The boats, using sonar to search, were concentrating on a 30-square-mile area of sea centred roughly six miles off Mine Head.

Mr O’Neill said the big concern was that the bad weather was closing in and was unlikely to clear before early next week.

“Friday is expected to be particularly bad,” he added.

Meanwhile, four family members of crew member Tomasz Jagla, who is missing along with Ger Bohan, were due to arrive in Kinsale to comfort his wife, Annetta and her two children.

Their flights are being paid for by the Kinsale Lions Club and they are being put up free of charge at a local guesthouse.