Bad weather hampers search of sunken trawler

Bad weather is continuing to hamper efforts by navy divers to search the wreck of the Pere Charles off the coast of Co Wexford.

Adverse conditions over the past week have made it impossible to reach the vessel, which has been located on the seabed under 35 metres of water.

Divers were hoping a break in the weather today would allow them to search the wreck for the five crewmen who have been missing since the sinking last Wednesday evening.

However, they were unable to enter the wreck this morning and the dive has now been suspended until a better opportunity presents itself.

Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to locate the wreck of the Honeydew II, which also sank during last

week's storms off Mine Head in Co Waterford.

Two crewmen are missing following that tragedy.

Debris from the stricken vessel has been washing ashore over the past few days, but the location where it sank has still not been identified.