Four people rescued after boat catches fire and sinks off Dún Laoghaire coast

Ellen O'Donoghue

Four people have been rescued after a boat caught fire and sank off the coast of Dún Laoghaire.

The pleasure craft had four adults on board and was around 11 metres long.

The Coast Guard was called at around 3.45pm on Saturday to report a fire on the boat, which was situated around 2.4km, or 1.5 miles northeast of Dún Laoghaire, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said.

Thick plumes of black smoke were visible from multiple points along the coast.

At around 3.56pm the Dún Laoghaire RNLI inshore lifeboat arrived on scene and successfully got all four adults off the boat.

They were taken ashore to be assessed at the RNLI station, where they were met by HSE and Fire Service personnel, the spokesperson said.

At around 5.15pm the boat fire was reported extinguished, and the vessel sank, according to the Department of Transport.

The RNLI's all-weather lifeboat and Dublin Port tug remained on scene monitoring the boat.

The Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre liaised with Dún Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit, Dún Laoghaire RNLI and Dublin Port.

Gardaí confirmed that they were assisting emergency services "near the scene of an incident involving a vessel in Dún Laoghaire harbour."