AN AIR and sea search for a Donegal fisherman missing feared drowned 20km west of the Orkney islands has been called off.
Mark Duffy (22), from Upper Drumaweir, Greencastle, was caught and pulled into the water by crab-fishing ropes from the 18.5m trawler, Noronya, on Friday.
Members of the crew saw him disappear under the water. They immediately reversed the vessel and released the ropes but Mr Duffy, who was not wearing a lifejacket, did not resurface.
A life-ring was thrown into the water and a smoke marker was used to pinpoint the spot where the fisherman disappeared. A search was launched involving a Shetland Coastguard service helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft from RAF Kinloss, two RNLI lifeboats from Stromness and Kirkwall and three trawlers.
A Shetland Coastguard spokesman said that the official search was called off when no trace of the missing man was found after 13 hours.
Mark's parents, Martin and Geraldine, and other family members were last night being comforted by relatives and friends.
Parish priest Fr Patrick McGoldrick said: "The entire community is devastated. Mark was a very keen fisherman and it was all he ever wanted to do from a young age."
Meanwhile, two crew members on board a 40ft wooden trawler, that got into difficulty after it left Cork Harbour on route to Baltimore on Saturday, made it safely to shore yesterday following a search off the coast of Cork.