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26/03/2002
Divers search wreckage of Tullaghmurray Lass
Police divers have begun the process of sifting through the wreckage of the Tullaghmurray Lass, which was discovered on the sea floor seven miles off the County Down coast last Thursday.
A police underwater search team lead by Sergeant Elvin Leech descended to the wreck on the morning of Tuesday March 26 to begin searching for the bodies of the three generations of the Greene family lost in sinking – the 54-year-old grandfather, 32-year-old father and eight-year-old son, all named Michael.
The Tullaghmurray Lass was found by sonar equipment on the Ken Vickers on Thursday March 21. The vessel is lying in 140 feet of water seven miles off the County Down coast.
The diving team had visited the wreckage on Monday, but deteriorating weather conditions and poor visibility on the sea floor hampered the search.
Before Tuesday's dive, Charlie McBride, a search co-ordinator, said: "They'll be putting divers down with cameras to investigate what they can see, what state the boat is in, and what they think caused the accident. After that, the recovery of the bodies will be a completely separate operation."
Calm seas have allowed search teams a lot more time to dive the wreck using specialist underwater camera equipment to record damage to the stern and wheelhouse. However, the search is limited further as the divers cannot spend more than nine minutes at the depths involved. The current search area is large and comprises about 1,200 square metres of the sea floor.
The extensive damage already found on the boat suggests that the Tullaghmurray Lass was hit by another much larger vessel, although marine investigators have been refusing to speculate as to the cause of the sinking.
It is thought the latest operation could last up to a week.
(GMcG)
A police underwater search team lead by Sergeant Elvin Leech descended to the wreck on the morning of Tuesday March 26 to begin searching for the bodies of the three generations of the Greene family lost in sinking – the 54-year-old grandfather, 32-year-old father and eight-year-old son, all named Michael.
The Tullaghmurray Lass was found by sonar equipment on the Ken Vickers on Thursday March 21. The vessel is lying in 140 feet of water seven miles off the County Down coast.
The diving team had visited the wreckage on Monday, but deteriorating weather conditions and poor visibility on the sea floor hampered the search.
Before Tuesday's dive, Charlie McBride, a search co-ordinator, said: "They'll be putting divers down with cameras to investigate what they can see, what state the boat is in, and what they think caused the accident. After that, the recovery of the bodies will be a completely separate operation."
Calm seas have allowed search teams a lot more time to dive the wreck using specialist underwater camera equipment to record damage to the stern and wheelhouse. However, the search is limited further as the divers cannot spend more than nine minutes at the depths involved. The current search area is large and comprises about 1,200 square metres of the sea floor.
The extensive damage already found on the boat suggests that the Tullaghmurray Lass was hit by another much larger vessel, although marine investigators have been refusing to speculate as to the cause of the sinking.
It is thought the latest operation could last up to a week.
(GMcG)
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03 April 2002
Weather again hampers search for Greene family
The search for three generations of a County Down family missing at sea has been hampered again by the weather. Despite valiant efforts to locate them, police divers have found no trace of Michael Greene, his son and eight-year-old grandson, also called Michael since they left Kilkeel fishing harbour on February 14.
Weather again hampers search for Greene family
The search for three generations of a County Down family missing at sea has been hampered again by the weather. Despite valiant efforts to locate them, police divers have found no trace of Michael Greene, his son and eight-year-old grandson, also called Michael since they left Kilkeel fishing harbour on February 14.
19 February 2002
Bad weather closes in on search for fishing vessel
The search for Kilkeel fishing vessel the Tullaghmurray Lass, and the three members of the Greene family who were aboard her, may be disrupted by gales. Although sea conditions were calm on Tuesday morning, search co-ordinators expected the continuing operation to be severely hampered by imminent gales.
Bad weather closes in on search for fishing vessel
The search for Kilkeel fishing vessel the Tullaghmurray Lass, and the three members of the Greene family who were aboard her, may be disrupted by gales. Although sea conditions were calm on Tuesday morning, search co-ordinators expected the continuing operation to be severely hampered by imminent gales.
22 March 2002
Search for missing fishermen resumes
The underwater search for the bodies of the three missing members of the Greene family is underway. Wreckage from the sea vessel, the Tullaghmurray Lass, which disappeared with three generations of the Greene family on board, was discovered off the coast of Kilkeel on Friday.
Search for missing fishermen resumes
The underwater search for the bodies of the three missing members of the Greene family is underway. Wreckage from the sea vessel, the Tullaghmurray Lass, which disappeared with three generations of the Greene family on board, was discovered off the coast of Kilkeel on Friday.
06 March 2002
Trawler recovers section of missing Kilkeel boat
A section of the wheelhouse of the missing Tullaghmurray Lass has been found in the nets of a fishing trawler. During a prawn fishing expedition on Tuesday March 5, the trawler found a large section of wood in its nets just south of the official 70 square mile search area.
Trawler recovers section of missing Kilkeel boat
A section of the wheelhouse of the missing Tullaghmurray Lass has been found in the nets of a fishing trawler. During a prawn fishing expedition on Tuesday March 5, the trawler found a large section of wood in its nets just south of the official 70 square mile search area.
09 April 2002
Police divers search wreckage for missing bodies
Divers will carry out further remote camera searches of the wreck of the sunken Tullaghmurry Lass to try to ascertain if bodies are inside. Divers believe the remains of some of the three members of the Greene family, who went missing on the boat on 14 February, may be inside.
Police divers search wreckage for missing bodies
Divers will carry out further remote camera searches of the wreck of the sunken Tullaghmurry Lass to try to ascertain if bodies are inside. Divers believe the remains of some of the three members of the Greene family, who went missing on the boat on 14 February, may be inside.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
