FOUR members of the Lough Swilly Lifeboat who helped save the six man crew and their stricken trawler during a ten hour operation in horrendous conditions are to receive bravery awards.

RNLI Divisional Inspector, Mr Colin Williams said were it not for the prompt intervention and bravery shown by the Lough Swilly Lifeboat 'lives could have been lost'.

Lough Swilly lifeboat's Second Coxswain Mark Barnett is to be accorded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for his role during the long and difficult rescue of the 45 foot crabber Mary Ellen and her six crew members on 12 November 2006. Deputy Second Coxswain George O'Hagan is to receive a Framed Letter of Thanks from the Chairman of the RNLI, and Crew Members Gregory McDaid, Alan O'Hagan, Stephen McGavigan and Dan Gallanagh are to be presented with Vellum Service Certificates for their part in the rescue operation.

At midnight November 12, 2006 the Lough Swilly all weather lifeboat William Luckin was launched following a report of a 45 foot crabber in difficulty 12 miles north of Dunaff head at the entrance to Lough Swilly,

The vessel was drifting easterly towards Inishtrahull in very rough seas with six people on board. The weather that evening was force 7 gale but as the lifeboat cleared Fanad Head they began to experience very rough seas and strong winds gusting up to gale force 8.

At 1.20am the lifeboat approached the Mary Ellen and George O'Hagan and the crew were on deck preparing to pass a towline to the casualty vessel.

After only an hour and a half the towline parted and had to be re-established. The combination of the strong gale force winds and the heavy seas with up to 10 metre swells made this an extremely difficult task.

"This was an arduous service that required skilful seamanship, great tenacity and strong leadership with both Mark Barnett and George O'Hagan taking it in turns to command the Lough Swilly lifeboat during the incident.

"The crew performed admirably in a very physically challenging service. I have no doubt that without the prompt intervention of the Lough Swilly lifeboat lives could have been lost," RNLI Divisional Inspector for Ireland Colin Williams.

"I also wish to thank the Portrush lifeboat crew for providing valuable assistance and ensuring a successful outcome to the rescue. These two lifeboat stations often provide support for each other for incidents off this exposed area of coastline." he added.

The two lifeboat operations managers at Lough Swilly and Portrush, Liam Magee and James Heaney are both to receive Letters of Appreciation from the RNLI in recognition of their support and assistance during the service.