Trawler skipper's funeral takes place

Over 1,000 people attended the funeral in Co Waterford this morning of Michael Hayes who was skipper of the trawler which sank…

Over 1,000 people attended the funeral in Co Waterford this morning of Michael Hayes who was skipper of the trawler which sank off the coast of West Cork last month.

The 'Tit Bonhomme' sank on the morning of January 15th last with skipper Michael Hayes (52) and fellow crewmen, Attea Shaban (26), Kevin Kershaw (21), Wael Mohammed (35) and Said Aly Eldin all perishing in the tragedy.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the church in the Co Waterford Gaeltacht of Ring from 10am.

Mr Hayes' body was recovered from the sea some 25 days after his trawler sank at the mouth of Glandore Bay.

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A father of five from Helvic Head in Co Waterford, Mr Hayes was returning from a three day fishing trip for prawn when his steel hulled trawler hit Adam Island at the mouth of Glandore Bay and sank in stormy seas.

The body of Egyptian Said Aly Eldin (23) who was the fifth and final member of the crew of the sunken trawler was recovered from the sea in Glandore Bay in west Cork yesterday.

His body was found floating on the surface of the sea on the western side of Glandore Bay, some 50 metres off Long Point and about 1.5km from where the vessel sank.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times