Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD has commended the Irish Coast Guard, the numerous other agencies, and the local communities of West Cork and Bunmahon for their assistance in the search for five missing persons from the fishing vessel Tit Bonhomme.
The final missing person was located this afternoon.
“From the moment the first call came through to the Coast Guard, the helicopter crews, West Cork volunteer Coast Guard units, numerous other agencies and countless volunteers have worked tirelessly to search for the missing persons, often in difficult conditions.
“I understand that the Coast Guard wishes to acknowledge the tremendous cooperation received from the various agencies, and particularly from the local community, as well as volunteers from all over the country who freely gave their time to join in the search for the missing people.
“The support shown to the families, and the tangible spirit of volunteerism throughout the search, is a testament to everyone involved.
“We can only hope that the families of the fishermen can now finally take same solace. I would like to express my condolences to all of the families, and to the local communities, during this very sad time.”
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Issued by:
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Press Office. Tel: (01) 604 1076 / (01) 604 1090.