Missing fishing family's boat found

A boat which vanished with three generations of one family aboard was today found 130ft below the sea.

The Tullaghmurry Lass disappeared last month off the coast of Co Down in Northern Ireland with 54-year-old Michael Greene, his 32-year-old son and eight-year-old grandson, both also called Michael, on board.

They had left their home in Kilkeel on a fishing expedition.

The wreck was discovered after fishery protection service vessel the Ken Vicars located an object yesterday on the sea bed several miles off Kilkeel.

Police said divers went out at first light this morning to the area where the object was found.

The boat was found 136ft (42 metres) below the surface and was positively identified as being the Tullaghmurry Lass.

At this stage, there was no sign of the three members of the Greene family.

Police divers were this afternoon searching for their bodies.

Alex Slater of the Fishermen’s Mission said the Greene family were relieved.

He said: ‘‘This is what they had been hoping and praying for but the big question is - are the bodies on board?

’’They just want to know where the bodies are so that their agony might end.’’

Charlie McBride, who helped co-ordinate the search for the Tullaghmurry Lass, said the boat was severely damaged.

He said: ‘‘Most of the wheelhouse has gone and there is severe damage to the stern.

‘‘It is what we suspected all along - that it was involved in some sort of collision.’’

A police spokesman said the divers who had gone down to wreckage had found the conditions ‘‘pretty hazardous’’.

‘‘There’s 3-4ft visibility and they are encountering nets, rigging and other apparatus from the trawler.

‘‘At this stage, it is the Marine Accidents Investigations Unit who will determine how the recovery operation will proceed.’’