Gales halt Galway search for fisherman's body

A search for the body of the fourth fisherman who was on a trawler that ran aground off the Galway coast on Friday night has …

A search for the body of the fourth fisherman who was on a trawler that ran aground off the Galway coast on Friday night has been delayed until later this morning.

The naval divers' search for Mr John Dirrane was delayed due to strong winds and rough seas.

Mr Dirrane from Inishmore was on the fishing boat Saint Oliver, which ran aground on a dangerous reef near Mweenish Island off the Connemara coast at around 11 p.m. on Friday night.

The bodies of the three other crew men were recovered yesterday on Saturday. They have been named as Joe Connolly, who was in his sixties from Carna; Michael Faherty from the Aran islands; and Michael Mullin (18) from Cleggan.

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A coastguard spokesman said the boat was split in two after being battered by heavy seas and gale force winds.

The crew had been making the short trip from Carna to Rossaveal, Co Galway, when a storm forced the vessel on to the rocks.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is expected to investigate the trawler's sinking.