Search fails to find missing fishermen

A second day of searches has failed to locate two fishermen missing since their trawler sunk off the Co Down coast as coastguards said it could be up to a fortnight before their bodies are recovered.

A police diving team visited the wreck of the vessel this afternoon, close to the entrance to Ardglass Harbour, where it hit rocks on Thursday night.

A PSNI helicopter also patrolled area while local lifeboats and private vessels scoured the coastline sea from first light for any sign of the men, who are in their early 20s.

Conor Bogues from Ballynahinch and Donal Gibson from Downpatrick, were not wearing lifejackets when their boat sank and experts believe the water temperature would have made it impossible for the pair to survive for more than three hours.

The skipper of the boat was rescued by an RNLI lifeboat not long after the vessel began to sink. He was taken to hospital with hypothermia.

As the second day of searches ended, Mr Gibson’s family tonight issued a statement.

It read: “Donal’s family wish to express their eternal thankfulness to all of those, both professional and volunteers, who have given their all to the effort to find Donal and Conor over the last few days.

“We want especially to thank all those local people who have been so kind and supportive during the ordeal.”

Mr Bogues’ family issued a brief statement last night to thank everyone involved in the rescue effort following an intensive search which involved helicopters, lifeboats and more than 500 civilians.

Parts of the boat were found washed up on the shoreline, before a vessel using sonar equipment identified the likely position of the trawler, Greenhill, deep in water near the harbour.

Alan Pritchard, watch manager at Belfast Coastguard, said today the search and rescue efforts had been replaced by a recovery operation.

An exclusion zone has been placed around the site and it is a criminal offence for boats and amateur divers to enter the area.

Mr Pritchard said: “I think we maintained optimism yesterday throughout the search.

“But really, in the water temperatures that we have, eight to nine degrees, survivability can be three hours.

“With cold water shock it can be minutes.

“Continually human beings break the rules but at this stage we have to be realistic and finding someone alive would be very unlikely.”

The watch manager added: “In our experience if we don’t have anything now then it could be up to two weeks before anything turns up.”

Police confirmed divers have visited the wreck but confirmed it could be Monday at the earliest before they revisit the scene.

A PSNI spokesman said: “Divers have confirmed the wreckage on the sea bed is that of that of the fishing vessel involved, the Greenhill.

“An initial search of the wreck has been carried out however further searches will be carried out as and when the weather permits.

“At this point no searches are planned for Sunday in terms of diving because of anticipated adverse weather conditions.”