Over 30 relatives of those who died when the Pere Charlessank off Hook Head on January 10th last travelled out to the salvage barge moored about 1km off Dunmore East yesterday to see the trawler in which their loved ones perished.
Divers went down yesterday morning and the salvage crane brought the trawler to the surface at 1.20pm, but there was a problem with one of the lifting points and she had to be dropped back to the seabed and lifted again, finally breaking the surface at 2.45pm.
The relatives were accompanied by Dunmore East parish priest Fr Brian Power and they prayed beside the badly damaged trawler and threw floral wreaths on board.
When they returned to Dunmore East port, many were too upset to talk. Members of the various family groups embraced and comforted each other.
Many wept openly, with just a few able to speak of their shock at the violence of the damage suffered by the Pere Charles.
The trawler was returning with a full hold to Dunmore East when she sank and the bodies of skipper, Tom Hennessy (32), his uncle Pat Hennessy (48), Billy O'Connor (50), Pat Coady (28) and Andriy Dyrin (30) from Ukraine were never recovered.
Julia Hennessy - who lost her son Tom and her brother-in-law Pat in the tragedy - said the families had long campaigned to have the Pere Charlesraised, but they were completely taken aback by the damage she had suffered.
"It was just great to see all those people out there paying their last respects - it was important to go out there - it's cathartic, something you have to do, it's a healing thing - I've just been thinking at home for the last week, I just have to see her, everyone has to say their goodbyes.
"It is not what I expected at all, it's a lot worse than I expected. I was quite disappointed because I had seen the Maggie Band she looked relatively good, but anything can happen on the bottom of the sea for all those months."
The salvage experts carried out a preliminary search of the vessel when they brought her to the surface and could see no sign of any bodies on board but Mrs Hennessy was still clinging to the hope that there may still be some remains inside the vessel.
"I was very saddened more than shocked, very saddened at what a waste of such wonderful men," said Mrs Hennessy.
Kelly Coady - who lost her brother Pat in the tragedy - had brought flowers out to the wreck but like the other relatives was barely able to contain her emotion when she spoke back in port.
"I was just totally shocked at the state of it - the condition that it's in - it's unreal - we said prayers out there and threw a few flowers - there's nothing more you can do," she said, before breaking down in tears.
Owner of the vessel Michael Walsh travelled out with the relatives. He, too, admitted he was stunned by the state of the boat, with serious crush damage on her starboard side and to the wheelhouse. "Unimaginable," he said.
The actual salvage operation had gone relatively well yesterday, despite some hitches and changes in the weather.
A decision was due to be taken last night on whether to bring the badly damaged trawler by barge late last night or today to Arklow for a full examination by Marine Casualty Investigation Board examiners.