The body of a young male was found washed ashore near Kilkeel in Co Down yesterday afternoon. It is believed to be one of the two cousins who have been missing since a boating accident off Dunany Point, Co Louth, 10 days ago which claimed four lives.
Land and sea searches have been going on since the accident to try to recover the bodies of eight-year-old Thomas Og Callaghan and Mr Stuart Callaghan (20). Earlier this week the funeral took place of Paul Callaghan (12), brother of Thomas Og, while last week another cousin, Mr James Russell (69), was buried. There were four adults and four children in the boat when it capsized on a sunny Sunday afternoon. They were all related and the owner of the boat swam to shore to raise the alarm.
Although three more of the group were rescued, two bodies were pulled from the sea later that night and the search has been continuing for the remains of the other two. The body of the young male recovered yesterday was found on Carnfield beach, just south of Kilkeel close to the northern end of Carlingford Lough.
It was found by a passer-by out walking at lunchtime and removed to the Daisyhill Hospital in Newry, Co Down.
It is believed that dental records will be used to try to establish whether the body is that of either of the cousins. All of the deceased lived in Co Louth.
The Irish Marine Emergency Services dispatched its Sikorsky helicopter to Kilkeel yesterday afternoon in the hope of finding a second body in the area.