Search resumes for missing fishermen

A massive search for seven fishermen missing off the south east coast is expected to resume today.

More than 300 volunteers joined 200 coastguard personnel yesterday to scour the coastline for the crew of two trawlers which vanished more than a week ago.

It was one of the largest searches of its kind in recent years but had to be suspended yesterday as storm force gales threatened the safety of volunteers on clifftops and exposed areas.

Five men drowned when the Pere Charles disappeared two miles off Hook Head in Co Wexford on January 10, while two more lost their lives just hours later when the Honeydew II sank nearby, off Minehead, Co Waterford.

The search operation divided into two groups is looking for the bodies from either vessel along coastline stretching more than 60 miles long from Ardmore in Co Waterford to Carnsore Point in Co Wexford.

Airborne crew on the Irish Coastguard helicopter, based at Waterford, is also searching the shoreline.

Dave McMyler, Incident Manager, Irish Coastguard, who is co-ordinating the operation, said he hoped to resume the operation at midday depending on the weather conditions.

The Pere Charles sank in seconds as the five-man crew prepared to put back into harbour at Dunmore East, Co Waterford.

It is believed their bodies are trapped on board but dive teams have been unable to reach the vessel due to bad weather and strong sea currents.

The Honeydew II disappeared a few hours later as the skipper tried to shelter from atrocious weather conditions, but it was not reported missing for almost 20 hours.

Two Lithuanian men survived the sinking, taking to a life raft before being picked up by a coast guard helicopter 17 hours later. The skipper and a Polish crewman are missing.