Rescuers to assess diving conditions in search for trawler crew

The search resumes for five fishermen missing after their trawler sank yesterday.

The 'Tit Bonhomme' was returning to its home port of Union Hall in Cork when it struck rocks - only one of the crew was rescued.

A 21-year-old student from Clonakilty, Co Cork, who was interested in taking up a career at sea, is thought to have been onboard with skipper Michael Hayes, a married father from Ring, Co Waterford, who had been living in Union Hall for years.

One of four Egyptian fishermen who were also on the trawler was rescued and was said to be in a comfortable condition at Cork University Hospital.

A sea and shoreline search involving lifeboats, coastguard units and other trawlers will continue today.

Coastguard spokesman Gerald O'Flynn outlines what is facing those involved in the search operation.

Mr O'Flynn said: "Weather conditions are reasonable but there is a strong swell still in the area at the entrance to Union Hall/Glandore which makes it difficult for diving and the prevailing wind is south, south-east.

"The LE Niamh has been anchored overnight and will give a full assessment to the diving teams as well."

Navy, Coast Guard and RNLI lifeboats will all join in the air, land and sea mission to locate the vanished crew of the 21-metre Tit Bonhomme.

Distraught relatives of the missing men gathered on the wind-swept pier throughout yesterday waiting for news on the whereabouts of their loved ones, but the search was stood down when darkness fell.

It is believed the Irish-registered vessel struck rocks, known locally as Adam and Eve Island, just moments away from the pier in the early hours of this morning.

Crew made a distress call to the Coast Guard at around 6am, but it was cut off and all radio contact was lost.

Strong winds and heavy seas had hampered the search and rescue mission, which included the Naval vessel LE Niamh and up to 15 local trawlers.

Navy and Garda divers are to examine the wreckage, which is grounded on the seabed and partially visible at low tide.

Declan Geoghegan, Coast Guard operations manager, said: “I’d be very surprised if we are looking for survivors at this stage.”

Mr Geoghegan said it was possible bodies could be still onboard the Tit Bonhomme, if it went down quickly and they became trapped.

“It’s not that easy an area to search,” he added.

The Tit Bonhomme was formerly a French-registered trawler, which was co-owned by Mr Hayes until recently, when he took sole control.

It is believed the crew left shore on Friday but were not expected back before Sunday. Garda interviews with the survivor are expected to throw light on what exactly happened.

Local parish priest Fr Michael Curran said the close-knit community was devastated.

“The tragedy that has hit this community is awful for everyone,” he said.

“Something like this affects everybody deeply.

“A lot of people here are involved in fishing, it’s a big thing in Union Hall.”

Just last month, three fishermen were rescued from a life raft after their trawler sank at the same spot.

The Jeanette Roberta was sailing out from Union Hall pier when it went down close to Adam, the larger of the two rocks at the narrow entrance to the harbour.