Fisherman's brother joins diving team

BBC Newsline's Maryann Maguire reports on how joining the team of volunteer divers who searched for his missing brother's body has given Ardglass man Barry Bogues a new focus.

"I want to hand something back", says Barry Bogues.

Connor Bogues died after the Greenhill hit rocks and sank

The words are spoken quietly and modestly as he sits on a grass bank next to the River Bann in Portadown.

"These people have done everything they possibly could to bring my brother back and now I want to do the same, give hope to other families who may need it in the future".

At 18, Barry Bogues is a happy-go-lucky young man, with a bright smile.

This week, the brother of the missing Ardglass fisherman Connor Bogues, 25, completed his open water diving certificate.

It is something that will enable him to dive alongside the members of the Boyne Rescue and Recovery service.

Last January, his oldest brother was one of three men on board the Greenhill, which hit rocks and sank off the coast of Ardglass.

The skipper survived and was treated for hypothermia and the body of the other crewman, Donal Gibson, was later recovered.

The searches for Connor's body were carried out mostly by the local community as well as divers from the Boyne Rescue and Recovery service.

The body of Mr Bogues has still not been found

Last February, relatives of Connor Bogues said they felt let down by the authorities, including the police.

Despite freezing conditions, stormy seas and poor visibility, volunteers from the Boyne Rescue and Recovery service continued to give up their free time to search for the body of Connor Bogues.

The group is formed of volunteer divers from across the island who come from all walks of life.

In January 2005 they also helped with the search for the Killough teenager Jordan Murdoch.

But last week, after more than 500 dives and 200 hours spent combing the sea bed, the Boyne Rescue team was forced to call off the search.

"It is the first time in the history of the organisation that we've had to walk away from a search before a loved one is returned to their family," Thomas Daly, vice-chairperson of the Boyne Rescue said.

Hurt

"Going to his family and saying sorry was the hardest thing many of us have had to do. It hurt and to be honest it still really hurts."

This weekend, the Boyne Rescue and Recovery will officially extend its Northern Ireland operation by partially amalgamating services with Dive NI, based in Portadown.

Since the Ardglass tragedy, some 20 divers from Northern Ireland have joined the group.

"We've always worked across the island. But the extension of the network will enable us to react quicker and more efficiently", says Thomas Daly.

Barry Bogues during his diving training

In the meantime, the group has warmly welcomed Barry Bogues as a new member.

"Barry is a confident and focused diver. But he also has another advantage", says Dave Freeburn, the Portadown-based diving officer who put him through his training.

"Because of the loss of his brother, he can understand the emotional side of what people we work with are going through and that in itself is something which is invaluable".

Meanwhile, the family says they have not given hope that the sea will one day return Connor's body and have thanked the communities in Ardglass and Ballynahinch for their support.

A special tribute weekend is to be paid to the two fishermen who lost their lives on Saturday, 10 June in the Pleasure Gardens in Portadown.