Ship surveyor investigates fishing boat deaths

A ship surveyor has been appointed to examine the wreckage of the Pisces, which sank off the coast of Co Wexford on Sunday with…

A ship surveyor has been appointed to examine the wreckage of the Pisces, which sank off the coast of Co Wexford on Sunday with the loss of five lives, to determine the cause of the tragedy.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) appointed the engineer to examine the vessel which went down on Sunday morning in foggy conditions about a mile from Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford.

The inspector is to report back and make recommendations on how to avoid a similar tragedy occurring in the future, the MCIB said.

The 26-metre boat was refloated last night by Garda and Navy diving units off Fethard-on-Sea using inflatable floats. It has been towed into Waterford Harbour by the Irish Lights vessel the Granuaile.

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The body of 14-year-old Mark Doyle was found 150 metres from the wreck yesterday by police and Irish Navy divers, about 24 hours after the bodies of his father Seamus Doyle, 33, and grandfather Jim Cooney, a 60-year-old undertaker, were pulled from the water.

Two other men, John Cullen, 45, and Martin Roche, 66, of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, also died.

All are thought to have drowned although the results of post-mortem examinations are not yet available, gardai said.

The remains of Mark Doyle, his father and grandfather, will be removed to a church in New Ross, County Wexford, ahead of burial on Thursday. The funeral of Mr Cullen will also be held on Thursday and Mr Roche will be buried tomorrow.

Conor Pope

Conor Pope

Conor Pope is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Pricewatch Editor and cohost of the In the News podcast