Fisherman's body recovered

The body of a fisherman was recovered by search and rescue teams off the coast of Galway today after a fishing vessel ran aground.

Lifeboat crews, coastguard helicopters, gardaí and around 100 local people are continuing to search for three other fishermen who were on board.

The man’s body was found on rocks just off Duck Island.

The 65ft vessel ran aground on a dangerous reef near Meenish Island off the Connemara coast at around 11pm last night.

A coastguard spokesman said the boat was split in two after being battered by heavy seas.

The crew had been making the short trip from Carna to Ross A Mhil, Co Galway, when strong winds and heavy seas forced the vessel on to the rocks.

An Air Corps helicopter joined the search at first light along with the Arann Island lifeboat and three onshore search teams.

Weather conditions are said to be easing after gale force winds hampered rescue teams through the night.

The search is being concentrated around an area south of Meenish Island where a lot of debris from the boat has been recovered.

One liferaft was found inflated near the wreckage of the boat and another was found on board.

A second body was found in the area later.