The family of a Co Laois student, whose body was recovered from the Liffey after he had been missing for almost a week, have thanked all those who helped search for him.
The body of Richie Wellwood (21), a third-year horticulture student at UCD and originally from Abbeyleix, Co Laois, was taken from the Liffey near Sir John Rogerson's Quay on Thursday.
He was last seen outside an Abrakebabra restaurant on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, at 3.37am last Saturday. Appeals for information about his whereabouts had been posted around the city and his family pledged a €10,000 reward for information.
It now appears that Mr Wellwood may have fallen into the Liffey after a night out. He had been in the UCD bar in Belfield before going with friends to Club M in Blooms Hotel, Temple Bar. He became separated from them after leaving the club.
Last night, his older brother, Paul Wellwood, thanked those who had assisted in the search, those who sent messages of support and Pearse Street gardaí.
