The sister of a young man whose body was discovered in the River Lee in Cork on St Stephen’s Day has expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in a nine-day search for her brother.
Stacey McCabe said her brother, Shea (29), entered the river near the Brian Boru Bridge in Cork in the early hours of December 18th following what she described as a “freak accident,” reports Breaking News.
”From that time, and even during Christmas Day, a multi-agency search took place in a bid to find Shea,” she said.
Gardaí, along with the Coast Guard, Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery, Blackwater Sub Aqua Club and volunteers, all took part in the extensive effort to recover the Tyrone man, reports Breaking News.
The Mallow Search and Rescue team later identified an image on their side sonar on December 26th, and their divers located the body in the water shortly afterwards.
In a message posted on a GoFundMe page, Ms McCabe said she was deeply thankful for the dedication shown by volunteers and emergency services in the search for her loved one, reports Breaking News.
“A freak accident turned into our worst nightmare, his body was lovingly recovered thanks to the incredible efforts of the rescue services in Cork.
We are deeply grateful to every person involved in bringing him back to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, support, and compassion,” reports Breaking News.
More than €20,000 has been raised to cover funeral expenses and the costs of returning Shea to Pomeroy in Tyrone, with the family also hoping to donate to the Cork Search and Rescue Team.
Some of the funds will also be used to support Cahan, the three-year-old son of the deceased, reports Breaking News.
Ms McCabe said the tragedy follows what she described as an “incredibly difficult period for the family.”
“Our family lost Shea’s brother Jason in October 2023, and our mother just seven months later in May 2024. Coping with so much loss in such a short space of time has been unbearable for our family,” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
