Hopes that the body of skipper Pat Colfer would be found in the wreck of the Rising Sun were dashed yesterday when the empty boat was brought ashore at Rosslare harbour. His family said they were shattered and heartbroken at the failure to recover the body.
The Co Wexford lobster boat claimed three lives after it sank in an area of strong currents off Kilmore Quay on November 29th.
Crewmen Jimmy Meyler and Ian Tierney were rescued but Mr Meyler later died in hospital.
Two days after the sinking, diver Billy O'Connor died less than eight metres from the surface as he returned from a search of the boat. However, Mr Colfer's body was not found and in December, Minister of State Pat "the Cope" Gallagher agreed to a request from the three families to salvage the vessel.
Mr Colfer's family and friends yesterday morning huddled in blustery conditions at Rosslare harbour as the 7.9-metre blue and yellow lobster boat was brought ashore by Granuaile, the Irish Lights vessel, just before 11am.
They had hoped that his body might have been recovered in the engine room. However, a search of the area discovered only Mr Colfer's watch and life jacket.
A private prayer service was held at the boat before it was taken away to a yard in nearby Kilrane for a full examination. Family members left flowers on the boat which was intact, despite 10 weeks in the sea. Mr Colfer, (37) from Slade, is survived by his wife Bernie and their two children.
Afterwards, Mr Colfer's brother, Eamonn, spoke on behalf of the family. "Today is a very sad and heartbreaking day for us in the Colfer and Nasey family," Mr Colfer said. "I'm sure you'll understand how difficult it is for us to speak at this time. And yet we would like to thank all those who have helped and supported us in the last 10 weeks.
"Our hopes are shattered but we are a close-knit family. We will support one another and that will bring us through this terrible darkness.
"Please remember us in your prayers and thank you for your support and help. At this time we don't wish to say too much more and maybe you might respect our wishes for a bit of time to grieve."
In the days after the sinking, the family had been critical of the search operation and were angry at the initial resistance to their request to lift the boat. Eamonn Colfer had also expressed concern over why safety devices on board the Rising Sun did not appear to activate when the vessel got into difficulty.
These issues will form a key part of the investigation that is being carried out by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
That investigation will be completed in about two to three weeks, according to Eugene Clonan, the marine, pollution and salvage manager of the Irish Coast Guard.
A cursory look at the boat gave no obvious indication as to what might have caused it to capsize and sink, he said. "The boat itself is intact. Other than that, I can't really say."
Asked if Mr Colfer's body would have been found if the boat was raised sooner, Mr Clonan said the boat was brought up as quickly as possible.
"It's a very, very difficult operation. You have to proceed slowly and methodically and take all health and safety matters into account," he said.
The salvage operation began last Friday and the boat was recovered on Monday night in rough conditions. "She was lying in a position about three miles southeast of Saltee Islands in about 50 metres of water."
Tuskar Rock Marine, a Wexford salvage company, worked with the Irish Lights vessel and the Coast Guard to raise the boat. It was a slow process because of the depth of the boat and the fact that the divers had to resurface regularly to decompress.
Mr Clonan said the Irish Coast Guard sent its condolences to the family "at this very difficult time and the Coast Guard would like to thank all involved in the operation".