Four fishermen rescued from French trawler

RNLI handout photo of the Wicklow RNLI rescuing four fishermen on a French-registered trawler after their vessel got into difficulty on the Irish Sea in the early hours of the morning.

The 120-tonne Bara An Aod suffered engine failure 2.5 miles (4km) east of Wicklow Head Photograph: RNLI/PA Wire

The alarm was raised at about 3.15am. There was a strong south-easterly force nine gale with torrential rain and a three to four metre breaking swell at the time. Photograph: RNLI/PA

The lifeboat, Annie Blaker, located the trawler at 3.55am. and subsequently towed the stricken vessel safely back to Wicklow Harbour by 5am. Photograph: RNLI/PA