A body has been found in the search for missing fisherman Willie Whelan.
The body has yet to be formally identified.
The discovery was made today off the coast of Hook Head in Co Wexford.
A huge sea search took place for the fisherman, who was missing since the trawler he was on sank near Hook Head on January 5.
The body of crew mate Joseph ‘Joe’ Sinnott, 65, a dad of four, was recovered from the water shortly after the incident and he was taken to University Hospital Waterford, but later died in hospital.
Speaking at the time, Rosslare Aontu councillor Jim Codd described Mr Sinnott as a “lovely man”.
He told the Irish Daily Mirror: “I knew Joe well. Joe was a lovely man. He had four children. The Sinnotts are synonymous with fishing in Kilmore.”
Mr Codd described Joe as “a very well liked man” adding that he was “very popular and very hardworking”.
“He was very much part of the seafaring community in Kilmore,” he said.
Mr Codd revealed that Joe was related to fellow fisherman Dominick Sinnott, who tragically died at sea last year, and paid tribute to the emergency services who have been leading the searches.
And speaking earlier this month after the latest fishing tragedy to hit the south-east, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the director of the Irish Coast Guard, Eugene Clonan, to thank staff and volunteers for their ongoing work in the search operation.
He said: “As the search continues, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing fisherman, and those of his bereaved colleague.
“The Defence Forces is also providing assistance in this search, with the LE Ciara acting as a co-ordinating vessel.
"In my role as Minister for Defence, I assured Mr Clonan that the Defence Forces will be available to provide further assistance if required.”
