Firefighters from the NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the incident in Buncrana on Sunday morning.
“Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle in the water at Buncrana Pier this morning, Sunday May 19 2024 at approximately 7.30am,” said a spokesperson from An Garda Síochána.
“Following a multi-agency search and recovery operation, the car was recovered from the water. One male (aged in his 80s) was discovered deceased inside the vehicle.
“Buncrana Pier and Swilly Road in Buncrana are currently closed to traffic as Gardaí conduct a technical examination.
“A file will be prepared for the Coroner’s Court in due course.”
“Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to contact them.”
“Anyone who was travelling in the vicinity of Buncrana Pier, Swilly Road and Shore Front between 6.30am and 7.30am this morning is also asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 9320540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”
The NIFRS confirmed crews from Northland and Crescent link in Londonderry attended to support Donegal Fire and Rescue Service, but were ultimately not required.
The pier was the scene of tragedy in March 2016, when five members of the same Londonderry family died after a vehicle slid into the water from the slipway.
Evan McGrotty (8), died alongside his 12-year-old brother Mark, their father Sean (46), their grandmother Ruth Daniels (57) and her 14-year-old daughter Jodie Lee Daniels.
The sole survivor was Mr McGrotty’s four-month-old baby girl, Ríonaghach-Ann, who was saved with the help of a brave bystander.
The baby was passed out the window of the sinking vehicle to Donegal man Davitt Walsh who swam out to the family.
Mr Walsh was later awarded the Michael Heffernan Gold Medal for Marine Gallantry by the Irish Government for his actions that day.
In 2021, Louise James – Ms Daniels’ daughter, Mr McGrotty’s partner, mother to the two boys and surviving baby – settled a number of High Court legal actions over the tragedy without liability.
During the inquest – which ruled the victims had died due to misadventure – she had described the condition of the pier at the time as “an accident waiting to happen”.
She added that there were “no words capable of expressing my pain, my disbelief and indeed my anger over what happened on that fateful day”.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
