A FISHERMAN whose body was recovered off the Donegal coast yesterday evening has been named locally as Kevin McCloskey.

The search for the well-known skipper began on Thursday evening, after a member of the public alerted the Irish Coast Guard coordination centre to a fishing vessel stranded two nautical miles south of Mullaghmore Head, Co Sligo.

It is believed that Mr McCloskey had fallen overboard.

The multi-agency search, involving Malin Head Coast Guard, the Sligo-based Coast Guard helicopter R118, the Killybegs Coast Guard Unit, RNLI lifeboats from Bundoran, Aranmore, Ballyglass and Sligo, as well as a number of local fishing vessels, focused on the Mullaghmore area and extended into Donegal Bay.

After an extensive three-day search, Mr McCloskey’s body was recovered yesterday evening shortly before 6pm by a local fishing vessel off Teelin on the Donegal coast.

A spokesperson from the Irish Coast Guard said: “The Coast Guard extends their sympathy to the family at this time of sadness and would also like to thank all the search units and local fishing vessels, An Garda Siochana along with the  community for their support throughout the search.”