Family tells of skipper's love for sea

The family of skipper Ger Bohan who is feared drowned following the sinking of the Kinsale based trawler Honeydew II spoke yesterday…

The family of skipper Ger Bohan who is feared drowned following the sinking of the Kinsale based trawler Honeydew IIspoke yesterday of his love for life and passion for seafaring.

Mary Bohan, wife of the 39-year-old father of four, was being comforted by friends and relatives in Kinsale yesterday. She said at this juncture the family "just want him [Ger] home". Meanwhile, Seán Bohan, father of the missing Cork skipper, said his son's affection for the sea started when he was just a boy.

"Ger's love of the sea began when he was eight, when he won his first angling competition. He spent every available minute he had as a young child converting milk crates into lobster pots." Ger Bohan recently spent a week in France looking into the possibility of buying a new trawler to bring back to Kinsale.

Local people yesterday spoke of how Mr Bohan was meticulous about his boat and never took any chances in the water. One fisherman said that Mr Bohan's boat was in "tip-top shape". Mr Bohan, who is a father to Anthony (18), Sally Jean (11), James (9) and six-year-old Joseph, is the third generation of his family to live in Kinsale.

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Chairman of the Kinsale harbour board Eamon O'Neill said local people were clinging to the hope that Ger Bohan and Polish skipper Tomas Jagla would be found safe and well.

Mr Jagla, who is in his mid-30s, is the father of a 12-year-old boy and a seven-year-old daughter. He has lived in Kinsale for over a year with his wife and young family.

Local butcher John Coholan said he knew Mr Jagla very well, describing him as a pleasant and hardworking man. The Polish community in the town also rallied around Ms Anita Jagla, giving comfort and support.

Hundreds of locals joined Ms Jagla and Ms Bohan as they prayed for their missing husbands at a special service held at St John the Baptist Church last night. On the altar were seven candles representing the seven missing fishermen.