THE TWO men found dead in the Irish Sea after an extensive search by Irish and Scottish agencies have been identified.
The search was launched around 6.15pm on Saturday, May 6, when the two men disappeared after launching their speedboat from Port Logan in Scotland around 9am and failing to return.
Kevin James McKinlay, 46, and Sandy Hamilton, 35, both from Larkhall, south Lanarkshire, were found after RNLI Lifeboats from Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man conducted an extensive search with HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters across the northern channel of the Irish Sea.
Spokesman for Donaghadee Lifeboat Maurice Neil told The Irish Post: “Donaghadee Lifeboat was involved in the search, both on Saturday evening when it searched the north channel through the Co. Down coast and also on Sunday, to join an extensive search involving quite a number of lifeboats, and coast guard assets.
“That search concluded Sunday afternoon with two bodies, one of those bodies was recovered by Donaghadee Lifeboat.”
Inspector Stephen Bell of the Dumfries and Galloway Police Division of Police Scotland said: “Following a joint search operation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the RNLI and Police Scotland, we can confirm that the bodies of two men have been recovered from the west coast of the Irish Sea.
“Enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Insp Bell added.
Police Scotland have also said a report into the incident will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
