Seven rescued as boat hits rocks

Seven men have been rescued after a fishing boat ran into difficulties off the County Donegal coast.

Their boat, the Horizon, hit rocks at Saldana Point in Lough Swilly at about 0330 GMT on Tuesday.

Two Lough Swilly lifeboats, the Irish Coastguard helicopter and Mulroy Coastguard Cliff and Rescue Team took part in the rescue.

The men had to be winched off the rocks and were taken to Altnagelvin Hospital, suffering from hypothermia and shock.

Malin Head Coastguard coordinated the rescue.

Dara O'Malley-Daly, duty watch officer told BBC News that Force 3 winds and a high swell made the rescue difficult.

"The lifeboats got to the scene first. The fishing boat had gone onto rocks. But because of the severe weather conditions, the boats were not able to effect a rescue.

"They had to be winched off the rocks by the helicopter. It was a precarious and dangerous rescue."

The East Derry MLA John Dallat believes this rescue supports his campaign to ensure that the Irish Coastguard remains at Malin Head.

"Plans by the Irish government to move the coastguard operation to Drogheda are shameful and must be reversed," he said.

Mr Dallat said that lives will be lost in the area if the plans to run down the station go ahead.