Search for fisherman after vessel ran aground ends for day

Roisin McBride, from the Irish Coast Guard, says on Thursday that they were alerted that a fishing vessel "had run aground with its engine still running"

A search for a fisherman missing off the coast of County Sligo in the Republic of Ireland has ended for the day.

Emergency services were alerted at around 20:00 local time on Thursday when a member of the public reported a fishing vessel had run aground close to Mullaghmore Head.

A multi-agency search, which is centred on an area off Mullaghmore and out into Donegal Bay, is expected to resume on Saturday morning.

Roisin McBride, from the Irish Coast Guard, said the rescue coordination centre in Malin Head have began an extensive search of the area.

A multi-agency search is expected to resume on Saturday morning

Ms McBride said they were alerted that a fishing vessel "had run aground with its engine still running".

The RNLI and a number of merchant and local vessels are also involved, she said.

A RNLI spokeswoman said lifeboats from Sligo Bay and Bundoran were requested by the Irish Coast Guard "to divert from a routine training exercise shortly before 8pm last night".

She said that followed a report from a member of the public who raised the alarm after spotting a boat aground with its engine still running off Cliffoney Beach.

"Arranmore and Ballyglass RNLI's all-weather lifeboats were subsequently requested to join the multi-agency search also involving the Irish Coast helicopter, Rescue 118 from Sligo and Killybegs Coast Guard's inshore lifeboat," the spokeswoman said.

A Gardaí (Irish police) spokesman said officers are also assisting in the search operation.