Boys' funerals postponed as search continues for father's body

The search for the body of Mr Stephen Byrne, who has been missing since his car was found in the sea in Co Wexford, enters its fifth day today. The funerals of his sons, Alan (10) and Shane (6), have been postponed, a New Ross Garda spokesman said, pending the outcome of the search. Supt Tom Saunderson confirmed the 45-strong search party, including gardai and the Irish Marine Emergency Service and an Air Corps helicopter, wound up its efforts for the day at about 5.30 p.m.

"The search has been concentrated around the Waterford Estuary and along the shore between Duncannon and Hook Head," said Supt Saunderson. "It's a distance of about 12 miles."

Gardai have confirmed the tracksuit bottoms and trainer found during the search belonged to Mr Byrne.

Asked whether the search was taking an unusually long time, Supt Saunderson said: "From experience, we could remain searching for up to two weeks and there is the fact that the body could have been washed out to sea rather than in to shore. If we are still unsuccessful after nine or 10 days we will notify the authorities in Wales and begin to widen our search."

Today's search will cover the same area as has been covered over the past four days. It is expected the boys, whose bodies were found washed up on Doncannon Strand and nearby Boyce's Bay on Friday, will be buried alongside their mother, Maeve, at Foulkstown cemetery, on the outskirts of Kilkenny city.