Search continues for boat tragedy boy
Rescuers were searching for a 14-year-old boy missing after a fishing boat tragedy that claimed the lives of his father and grandfather and two other men today.
More than a dozen small locally-based craft, as well as lifeboats and helicopters were scanning the area near the village of Fethard-on-Sea, in Co Wexford.
As the search went on in heavy fog and a rising sea, though, only a shoe and a jacket belonging to the missing youth, Mark Doyle, of New Ross, Co Wexford, had been recovered.
Mark’s brother was one of five people - four of them boys and youths - to survive when the 26-foot boat Pisces suddenly sank a mile or so off shore and about two hours after the 10-strong party had put out from Fethard for a day’s sea angling.
Just why the craft got into difficulties remained a mystery.
Initial examination of the wreck by divers revealed no obvious signs of damage.
The alarm was raised when the boat was reported to be shipping water.
By the time a nearby a fishing craft, skippered by local man Tommy Roche arrived on the scene the four men were dead and five other members of the party were clinging on to floating barrels in the water.
Mr Roche said: ‘‘I just saw a few heads in the water and some of them were swimming around. They were all shouting and two young boys were hanging on to a drum.
‘‘We picked them up and brought them into port.’’
The survivors were all taken to hospital at Wexford, where they were tonight recovering from their ordeal.
The Pisces skipper, Paddy Barron, was also rescued.
As the search for Mark progressed, one of the volunteers involved, sub-aqua club member Billy O’Connor, said: ‘‘It is extremely difficult because of the fog, which has been around all day, and now the sea conditions are not good. There is a fierce swell.’’
Three of the victims of the accident were named tonight as Jim Cooney, an undertaker from New Ross, who was in his late 50s, his son-in-law Seamus Doyle, who was in his mid-40s and John Cullen.
Mark Doyle is Seamus’s son.
The fourth man to die in the tragedy was named as Martin Roche, of Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
The survivors were named as Mark’s brother Patrick, Paul Cullen - the son of John Cullen - and Derek O’Connor.
Earlier, junior marine minister, John Browne, who represents Co Wexford in the Dail, visited the scene.
He said: ‘‘Obviously, our thoughts are with the families of those lost in this terrible tragedy.
‘‘I would like to convey my sympathies to them and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time.’’
The minister confirmed that a full investigation into the incident would be carried out by Ireland’s Marine Casualties Investigation Board.
It is believed the wreckage of the craft will be raised to the surface as part of the bid to find out what went wrong.
Among issues to be probed will be whether there were enough life-jackets on board the boat.
