Boat tragedy investigators film wreck

Marine accident investigators were tonight studying the first video footage of

Marine accident investigators were tonight studying the first video footage of

a fishing boat which mysteriously went down off the Northern Ireland coast with the loss of three generations of the same family.

Police divers spent all day filming the wreckage of the Tullaghmurry Lass, lying on the sea bed in more than 130 feet of water seven miles off its home port of Kilkeel, Co Down.

They used sophisticated underwater surveillance equipment specially shipped from England.

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The team plans to continue to videotape the wreckage for several days, focusing on extensive damage to the stern and wheelhouse.

Investigators are understood to be convinced that the trawler was hit by a larger boat, given the extensive damage to the vessel.

Only after a full survey of the vessel has been carried out will the divers begin to tamper with the wreckage to see if the bodies of any of the Greene family are inside.

Fisherman Michael Greene, 54, his 32-year-old son and eight-year-old grandson, both also called Michael, were lost when the fishing boat sank in the middle of February.

The wreck was found only last week after weeks of searching.

An exclusion zone was declared yesterday to keep away amateur divers.

Sgt Elvin Leech, head of the Police Service underwater search unit, said well-meaning unofficial searchers were posing a problem.

"What they have to appreciate is that, because there have been fatalities, it's a criminal investigation and by going down there they are interfering with evidence."

He added: "We will use the special underwater camera to video the site in situ and get everything on record. Then we will be at liberty to start removing bits of wreckage to see if the bodies are inside."

PA