The Marine Casualty Investigation Board says it cannot comment on a request for salvage of the Pere Charles fishing vessel which sank off the southeast coast with the loss of five lives almost two months ago. This follows a meeting of the board yesterday at which the issue was discussed.
Earlier this week the bereaved families of the five missing men appealed for the Government to lift the hull from the seabed.
The families of Tomasin Hennessy (32), Pat Hennessy (48), Billy O'Connor (50), Pat Coady (27) and Andriy Dyrin (32), from Sevastopol in Ukraine, intend to seek a meeting with Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey and the relevant authorities. This followed an independent assessment of film footage of the hull recorded by Naval Service divers during the extensive search.
The families were informed that much of the hull had not been filmed. Pat Hennessy, brother of Tomasin Hennessy, said they believe the vessel must also be lifted to establish the cause of its rapid sinking en route to Dunmore East, Co Waterford, on January 10th. The families have been informed that salvage would not have to be paid for by the State if the vessel is insured and if a wreck removal order is issued by the relevant minister.
