MINISTER FOR the Marine Simon Coveney has expressed his sympathy to the families of the two Skerries fishermen whose bodies were found early on Saturday morning after an extensive search.
Ronan Browne (26) and David Gilsenan (41) went missing eight days earlier after they left the north Dublin port of Skerries to check lobster pots, prompting an extensive sea and shore search over the past week.
Their bodies were discovered by a fishing vessel, the Guiding Light, just after 1.30am on Saturday about six miles off Clogherhead, Co Louth. They were brought ashore to Port Oriel by the Naval Service patrol ship LE Ciara, with the assistance of crew from RNLI Clogherhead lifeboat, just before 4am on Saturday.
Mr Coveney said this would be a “very very difficult day” for the Browne and Gilsenan families, whom he had visited.
“It is an incredibly difficult time,” Mr Coveney said.
“I’d like to express sincere sympathies. In some ways, this will help them to find some element of closure as now they will be able to grieve, but they have been experiencing a terrible ordeal.”
Rescue crews believe their 17ft open-top fishing boat capsized in bad weather near the islands off Skerries before drifting north in high winds and swells.
Irish Coast Guard operations officer David McMyler confirmed the bodies were identified as being those of the missing men. “On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to members of the Browne and Gilsenan families,” he said.
Mr Browne lived in Skerries with his wife of six months, Linda. Mr Gilsenan lived in the nearby village of Rush with his wife, Suzanne, and their two young children, aged six and nine. Both men were qualified marine engineers and experienced fishermen.
The day after the men went missing, Mr Browne’s boat, Lady Linda, was located overturned 12 miles north of the location at which the men had been fishing. A set of oilskins washed up near Gormanstown the next day.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is investigating the sinking.
Mr Gilsenan’s removal will take place from his his home today to St Maur’s Church, Rush, for 1pm Mass, followed by funeral to Whitestown Cemetery. Mr Browne’s removal will take place tomorrow to St Patrick’s Church, Skerries, arriving at 12.50pm for 1pm funeral Mass. Burial afterwards is in Ardla Cemetery in Skerries.
