Navy divers due to join search for missing fisherman

Navy divers are due to join air and sea teams tomorrow in the search for a fisherman feared drowned off the south east coast after his boat sank.

He was named locally as John Ennis, who is in his early 60s.

A major operation was under way tonight for the missing father-of-four from Ballyhack, Co Wexford.

The alarm was raised shortly after midday when the skipper of the stricken vessel was spotted in the water as he swam ashore.

The two men were fishing about half a mile north of Duncannon when the nine metre vessel, called Na Buachailli, went down.

A search and rescue helicopter from Waterford Airport, several local fishing vessels and lifeboat and coast guard crews from Fethard-on-Sea and Dunmore East all scrambled to the scene to search for the missing man.

Weather conditions in the area are said to be deteriorating as night falls.

It is understood the men were hauling lobster pots when the vessel overturned and sank in the Suir Estuary.

Visibility was good and there were light winds in the area.

Ciaran O Mullein, of Dunmore East Lifeboat Station, said the stricken boat had been located on the seabed.

But he said gale-force winds, heavy rain, high tides and strong currents were hampering search efforts.

“Visibility is getting very bad and once darkness falls the search will be called off for the night,” he added.