The anticipated discovery of a sunken German submarine in Lough Foyle turned out to be a “sonic illusion”, it was announced yesterday.
A search team from Mallow, Co Cork, came across what they believed to be a wreck on the lough bed near Derry, using sonar equipment. The outline of what was thought to be a rare German midget U-boat turned out to be just that – an outline.
Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment Alex Attwood called in marine experts to check whether the object was a submerged sub or shipwreck. They carried out a series of sonar surveys in the lough, which was a major naval base during the second World War.
Mr Attwood said: “The original image that excited interest was the form of a ‘sonic illusion’. When the site was scoped out, the sonar exaggerated and enlarged what is there in the sweep around the site. There is no doubt for a moment there was a thrilling possibility which has now not come to pass. I do share a sense of disappointment.”
The search team from Mallow was told to keep the location and details quiet until checks were complete. There were even fears any unexploded device on board could be a threat to divers.