Divers explore sites of sunken trawlers

A file photo of the Pere Charles

A file photo of the Pere Charles

Divers at the site where the Père Charles  trawler sank of the Co Wexford coast two weeks ago with five men on board are expected to complete a third dive to the wreckage this evening.

A spokeswoman for the rescue services confirmed that weather conditions were good today and that work was "ongoing" at the site. Naval service divers have completed two dives to the boat and a third is expected to take place.

The spokeswoman said she could not confirm whether anything had been found on the trawler. Five fishermen are believed to have drowned when the boat sank in poor weather conditions. They are Billy O'Connor, Pat Coady, Andriy Dyrin and Tom and Pat Hennessy.

Two Garda divers have also been down to the wreck of the Honeydew II, which sank a short time after the Père Charles. Two men were rescued after the trawler sank, but skipper Ger Bohan and Tomasz Jagla are still missing.

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The spokeswoman said the divers are expected to return from assessing the site by about 4.15pm.

A friend of missing Kinsale skipper Ger Bohan yesterday said searchers are confident they have located the wreck of the Honeydew IIover three miles off Ram's Head in Co Waterford.

John Walsh, skipper of the Rachel Jwho had been fishing close to the Honeydew IIwhen she sank in the early hours of January 11th, said they had recovered a handrail from the missing vessel when they trawled the location yesterday.

Mr Walsh said another trawler, the Lovon, from Baltimore, under skipper Kieran Murphy, had received very strong sonar soundings at the location and the Rachel Jhad dropped a creek, or multi-pronged grappling hook, and recovered the handrail.