Navy not ordered to raise boat which may hold skipper's body

Marine Minster Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher tonight refused to order the Navy to raise a sunken fishing boat from the sea bed off Wexford in the search for the body of a missing fisherman.

Almost three weeks since the Rising Sun suddenly capsized off the Great Saltee Island, the family of skipper Pat Colfer appealed for officials to intervene in the hope his body is still on board.

But the minister insisted accident investigators did not need the boat raised and that he would not order it.

“I fully understand the pain of the Colfer and other families in this and their desire to bring this phase to a closure,” Mr Gallagher said.

“I have given it very serious consideration however I have been advised by the relevant authorities that they searched the area around the boat and unfortunately the body of Pat Colfer is not in the boat.

“The Marine Casualty Investigation Board, a statutory body and independent, I’m advised that at this stage that they don’t require the vessel to be lifted. I also have the view that I’m anxious that all resources be extended on the sea and coast and also that a helicopter be available to search in the hope of finding the body.”

Relatives of Mr Colfer claimed there were tensions between the family and Navy search teams from the day the rescue operation began.

Eamonn Colfer begged the minister to help his grief stricken family.

“We have implored the Minister, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher, to review the situation and possibly to lift it,” Mr Colfer told RTE Radio.

“The reason we didn’t ask previously to have the boat lifted was because whatever resources they had, capable or incapable, it was the only shred of hope we had at that stage.

“But they have pulled out we have no hope and no definite confirmation that he isn’t there.

“We need closure and to grieve you need something to grieve to. You can’t grieve to a needle in a hay-stack. You need somewhere to go and grieve.

“I would implore and beg if necessary Pat the Cope Gallagher to come back to us with the confirmation of that lift.”

The Rising Sun sank with the loss of its skipper, Mr Colfer, 37, of Slade, Co Wexford, and crewman Jimmy Meyler, 46, who was rescued with colleague Ian Tierney, 27, of Kilmore Quay after spending several hours in the water.

Mr Meyler died later in hospital.

A diver who went down the 52m in a bid to recover Mr Colfer’s body also lost his life. New Ross man Billy O’Connor, a former vice-president of the Irish Underwater Council, went missing 8m from the surface on his way back from a dive on the wreck.

The Navy search for Mr Colfer was called off on Wednesday but it is understood there is no exclusion zone or diving restrictions on the area around the shipwreck.

The Rising Sun lies 52m below the surface 6 miles from Kilmore Quay on the south Wexford coast.