The funeral of one of five people who died when a boat sank suddenly off the Co Wexford coast was held today as gardaí and shipping experts continued to investigate how the fishing trip ended in tragedy.
Hundreds of mourners joined friends and family of 66-year-old Mr Martin Roche for the funeral in his home village of Galbally in Co Wexford.
Later today, the bodies of four others who died, including three generations of the same family, were being removed to churches in the county as their families prepared to lay them to rest tomorrow.
Five people, including a 14-year-old boy, his father and grandfather drowned when the Pisceswent down in fog, a mile off Fethard-on-Sea.
Mr Roche's wife Mary Ellen led mourners, including his five children, at his funeral today at St John the Baptist Church.
It emerged that his middle son, Oliver, had planned to join the annual fishing party but was unable to board the 26ft boat as it was full.
The President Mrs McAleese was represented at the ceremony by her Aide de Comps and Bishop Eamonn Walsh held the funeral Mass.
Father Aidan Kavanagh told mourners, who packed the small church, that words were "inadequate" to temper their grief.
He added that the bereaved were still waiting for answers about the tragedy.
Gardaí and a marine surveyor were today continuing their efforts to find those answers.
Maritime engineer Mr Jim Snelgrove has been appointed by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board to examine the Pisces, which was re-floated and taken to Waterford Harbour, and determine how it sank.
Initial examinations showed no sign of damage, fuelling speculation that a faulty pump caused the accident.
The Garda has been interviewing five survivors including skipper Mr Paddy Barron. None of those on board were wearing life jackets, according to rescuers.
Later today the bodies of 14-year-old Mark Doyle, his father Mr Seamus Doyle (33) and grandfather Mr Jim Cooney, a 60-year-old undertaker, will be removed to the parish church of St Mary and St Michael in New Ross ahead of a joint funeral tomorrow.
The body of the fifth victim, Mr John Cullen (45) whose son Paul survived the sinking, was being removed to a church in nearby Rosbercon where his funeral will also be held tomorrow.
PA