Couple have car, belongings stolen while in sea in Kerry

A couple from Northern Ireland holidaying in the Maharees in Co Kerry emerged from the water in Brandon Bay on Friday to find their car and all their possessions gone.

Gardaí in Tralee are seeking the whereabouts of a Northern Ireland registered black Peugeot 207 taken from the beach on the Maharees west of Tralee.

The theft occurred sometime after 11 am as Kevin McCullagh ( 24) from Co Tyrone and his girlfriend Oonagh Monaghan also aged 24 and from Co Fermanagh and the owner of the car, were taking a surfing lesson.

The holidaymakers who were left in nothing but their wet suits managed to make their way to a local shop where CCTV footage captured their car driving past the shop shortly before noon on Friday.

They were making their way to Dublin by train on Saturday.

Kevin McCullagh’s father, Declan McCullagh, who was on his way to Dublin today to collect them from Heuston Station and bring them back to Co. Tyrone said Kevin and his girlfriend Oonagh had “lost everything”.

“Their passports, Kevin’s car keys, driving licences , clothes, mobiles are all gone.”

Mr McCullagh said they realised the car was gone as they walked up the beach after emerging from the water. The beach was quiet at the time.

Anyone with information on the black Peugeot 207, a three-door hatchback- registration number JHZ 7328 is asked to contact gardaí in Tralee at 066 7122022 or any garda station.