Major operation off Wexford coast continues; Shipping container impounded off coast of Cork and Waterford 

A major multi-agency operation after a boat ran aground off the coast of Wexford continues, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said.

Mr Martin said there has been strong co-operation across a number of agencies.

The Defence Forces, garda units and the Irish Coast Guard are involved.

A garda drug unit is involved and two people are assisting investigators with their inquiries, it is understood.

The Irish Coast Guard said it received a distress call from a vessel in difficulty off the coast of Co. Wexford at approximately 22:10 on Sunday evening.

It is understood the vessel was sailing from Castletownbere in West Cork, where it was purchased on Friday,  to Devon in England.

Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter R117, and Rosslare RNLI were tasked to the scene where a fishing vessel was aground on a sandbank off the coast of Blackwater, Co Wexford.

After attempts to tow the vessel were unsuccessful, the casualties were successfully winched from the vessel.

Both R117 and the Rosslare RNLI were subsequently stood down.

On Monday evening, a spokeswoman said gardaí were engaged in a “live operation”.

The Defence Forces described its response as ongoing.

Speaking about the operation as he arrived for a cabinet meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Martin said: “I have been briefed in terms of a multi-agency operation.

“It is still ongoing so it is not right or proper of me to comment any further or speculate on it.

“But what we are witnessing is very strong co-operation across the agencies in respect of this operation.”

Meanwhile, it is being reported that a container ship has been impounded off the coast of Cork and Waterford after Gardaí and members of the Army Ranger Wing boarded the vessel.