Fears for missing fishermen

A FISHERMAN recently working in Devon is among those listed as missing after a fishing vessel disappeared without trace in the Irish Sea earlier this week.

Alan Minard, aged 20, is from Penmaenmawr in Wales, but his family have said that he had been working in Devon as an apprentice ship’s engineer.

Ross Ballantine and skipper Carl McGrath are also missing after the Nicola Faith failed to return from a fishing trip on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood the Covid-19 pandemic led Mr Minard to work on the vessel, which was apparently dropping lobster pots when they went fishing on Wednesday. The families hope the boat has broken down and is drifting.