Fishermen's Families Offer To Fund DNA Testing

The families of Irish fishermen lost at sea have agreed to help pay for DNA tests on bones which were found of the southeast coast.

The announcement comes amid uncertainty over whether the Irish government would be willing to fund the examinations.

Over the past three years a skull and two femur or thigh bones were discovered off the Wexford and Waterford coasts.

Special DNA testing in England is required in order to verify the identity of the remains, as testing undertaken in Ireland was unable to extract the DNA.

It is thought the remains may from the crew of the Pere Charles, the Maggie B or the Honey Dew II.

The cases of those ships, in which nine bodies were never discovered, are still being investigated, according to gardaí.

John Hennessy, brother of the Pere Charles skipper Tom Hennessy told RTÉ News the remains are lying in storage in Dublin and have never been identified.

He said the families would be willing to discuss paying for testing to be carried out on the bones.

Gardaí were told the cost could be €12,000, but since that estimation some of the identities of the bones have been confirmed. The cost could now be lower.

Mr Hennessy told the broadcaster the government handled the situation badly. He said the families just want the bones to be sent to England for examination.

Gardaí say inquires to establish the identity the remains have so far been unsuccessful.

(IT/GK)