Dispute lifeboat in rescue mission

The lifeboat towed the trawler back to Ardglass

A County Down lifeboat at the centre of a crewing dispute is back at sea.

The all-weather lifeboat from the Newcastle station went to the aid of a trawler drifting without power 22 miles out into the Irish Sea on Friday.

It towed the 70ft fishing boat back to Ardglass, one of County Down's main fishing ports.

All lifeboat services at Newcastle were withdrawn last month after the resignation of a number of crew members involved in the dispute with the coxswain.

Captain Eoin Hurley: "The mood at the station is good"

The walk-out followed a long-running internal dispute at the station, which is one of the oldest in the UK.

The RNLI has been holding talks with former crew members and some have agreed to return to duty, alongside new volunteers who have been undergoing intensive training.

On Friday morning, 15 men reported for duty.

Captain Eoin Hurley said: "The mood here in the lifeboat station is quite good. The people who have stayed by the lifeboat are very happy and we have new recruits who seem to be fitting in very well."

However, the dispute has not yet been fully resolved - last weekend, a group of ex-crew members announced they were taking legal action against the RNLI.

Sinn Fein councillor Willie Clarke said: "People are delighted the boat is back in the water but they would like to see the whole community getting behind it, to repair the damage that has been caused by the disaffected members leaving.

Our objective has always been to continue to save lives and we are confident now of the way forward

RNLI divisional inspector Colin Williams

"And they would like to see their grievances heard and get back onto the boat in their original positions."

In a statement the RNLI said local community support for the station had resulted in 12 new crew coming forward and being trained.

RNLI's divisional inspector of lifeboats in Ireland, Colin Williams, said: "Our objective has always been to continue to save lives and we are confident now of the way forward."

The withdrawal of Newcastle lifeboat had caused considerable concern to the County Down fishing fleet.