Contracts awarded for raising Pere Charles and Maggie B

The Government has awarded contracts for the raising of two fishing vessels that sank off the south-east coast in recent years.

Five lives were lost when the Pere Charles sank near Hook Head last January, while two died when the Maggie B sank in the same area in March 2006.

Irish Diving Contractors, a company based in north Co Dublin, has been contracted to raise the boats and bring them to Arklow in Co Wicklow.

They will then be examined by Department of Transport surveyors.