Five members of family drown

The five - two adults, a teenage girl and two young brothers - who died when the SUV they were in slipped off the pier in Buncrana last night were members of one extended family.

Louise Daniels was in England for the weekend and on her return was told of the tragedy that had hit her family.

Her husband, Seán McGrotty, was driving an Audi Q7 jeep when it entered the water at Buncrana at about 7.30pm yesterday.

Their sons Mark (12) and Evan (8) and daughter Rionaghac-Ann (four months) were in the vehicle, along with their grandmother Ruth Daniels and her daughter Jodie Lee-Daniels (14).

The baby girl was passed out of the jeep’s window to a bystander who had jumped into the water to help. She survived and is said to be “doing very well” in hospital.

The remaining five family members all drowned in the tragedy.

Local parish priest Fr Paddy O’Kane visited the family home at St Eithe’s Park in Derry yesterday.

After visiting the home, Fr O’Kane said: “The grief of the family cannot be measured.

“There was a numbness and stillness in the family home.

“My thoughts and prayers and the thoughts and prayers of the entire parish and further afield are with those bereaved.

“Because we do not have Requiem Mass on Holy Thursday the funerals will take place following a funeral service liturgy in Holy Family chapel on Thursday at 2 o’clock”, he added.