AN 80-FOOT FISHING vessel had to be towed to harbour after getting into difficulty last night.

The Courtmacsherry RNLI all-weather lifeboat was called out at 7pm after the vessel got into trouble 15 miles south of The Seven Heads in West Cork.

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat under coxswain Ken Cashman plus a crew of five launched the Trent-class lifeboat immediately and proceeded at full speed to the distress area as the large trawler with four crew on board sought assistance.

The stricken vessel was located at 7.45pm and an immediate tow was put in place.

The vessel was berthed in the safe haven of Adams Quay in Kinsale in what the RNLI called “tricky” sea conditions.

Courtmacsherry RNLI Voluntary Operations Manager, Brian O’Dwyer praised the crew for carrying out the rescue “with great speed and professionalism” and thanked them and all the station personnel for “sacrificing the soccer battle in Copenhagen in order to help others in distress”.