AN Irish climber has died in an accident in the Italian Alps. Mr Eddie Gaffney (53), an experienced mountaineer, fell and died on a descent of the north face of Mount Disgrazia in the Val de Bregalia region last Sunday.
Mr Gaffney, from Templeogue, Dublin, was climbing alone at the time. He had been on Mount Disgrazia for two days, having set off last Friday. During the climb the weather deteriorated and he had to wait for conditions to improve before "completing his ascent early on Sunday.
Speaking from Val de Bregalia last night, Mr Frank Nugent, deputy leader of the 1993 Irish Everest expedition, who had planned to join Mr Gaffney in a climb on the Alps, confirmed that the local rescue services had airlifted the body from the mountain.
Mr Gaffney, who worked with IBM in Dublin, was holidaying with his family in the Alps. He is survived by his wife, Celia, daughters Andrea, Niamh, Aoife and Jane, and a son, Ian.