Sea search extended for missing Erris fisherman

23 year old missing since Friday

Áine Ryan

OVER 20 local fishing boats from the Erris area extended their search yesterday (Monday) for the young lobster fisherman, Daniel Doherty who has been missing since Friday evening last. Fisherman, Pat O’Donnell told The Mayo News last night that the local flotillas were ‘concentrating on the Ballycastle area’.
“That is about 18 miles from Benwee Head where his boat was found. Weather conditions are favourable today and the Lifeboats and Coastguard are still searching in Broadhaven Bay,” Mr O’Donnell said.   
The boats were supported by teams of neighbours and friends who continued to search along the steep cliffs and rugged coastline yesterday.  
The alarm was raised  when 23-year-old Daniel Doherty failed to return to Rinroe pier when expected last Friday evening. It is believed he got into difficulty while baiting lobster pots.
Over the weekend, the search for the missing man had concentrated on the area around Benwee Head where his 30-ft half-decker, the Carra Rose, was discovered at a nearby beach, on its side and with its lights still on, shortly before 9pm on Friday last.

Discovery
Divers initially concentrated their search on the area where the boat was discovered. They were supported by the Achill and Ballyglass lifeboats, foreshore teams, local fishing boats and the Shannon rescue helicopter.  
Weather conditions in the area were poor on Friday with torrential rain but the sea was calm, according to locals.
Over the weekend, hundreds of people, many of whom were friends and neighbours of the missing fisherman, searched the high cliffs and many inlets,  By all accounts, Mr Doherty was a very hard-working fisherman who was very popular and highly respected locally.
His father Brian and mother, Noreen, as well as his brother and sister, were kept informed throughout the weekend of search operation’s progress. Divers concentrated their efforts on Sunday afternoon in the area where Mr Doherty’s lobster pots were located.
Prayers for Mr Doherty’s safe return were said at Masses throughout Erris over the weekend.