The search will resume this morning for the body of a 16-year-old schoolgirl who is presumed to have drowned with a friend at Parteen, Co Clare last Thursday evening.
The body of Victor O'Connor (16), of Ballygrennan Close, Moyross, Limerick, was recovered yesterday by a team of divers at the Ardnacrusha ESB generating station tailrace. He was being hailed yesterday as a hero for attempting to save the life of Lindsey Kiely, of Cosgrave Park, Moyross, who had slipped into the fast-flowing water while the turbines were on.
The alarm was raised by mobile phone at 6.23 p.m. by four friends who were with them at the time.
The body was recovered by the Limerick Search and Rescue Unit at 9.40 a.m. beside the Tailrace Bridge in Parteen. The body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital by ambulance where a post-mortem was due to be carried out.
Flowers were placed on the bridge by relatives and friends. The removal takes place from Crosse's Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick, at 7 p.m. tomorrow night to Corpus Christi Church, Moyross, and the burial will be after 11 a.m. Requiem Mass on Monday.
The body was found about 100 yards downstream from where the tragedy occurred in 18-20ft of water: at full flow it was 30ft deep.
It emerged that Stacey O'Connor, a sister of the victim, tried to save the pair but got stuck in the mud, and they were swept away as she tried to free herself.
Both victims were sitting for their Junior Cert, and the exams in their schools went ahead despite the shock and gloom hanging over the students and staff. Professional counsellors were on hand for the pupils.
The principal of Limerick CBS, Sexton Street, Mr Noel Earley, where Victor was a student, described him as a lovely engaging youngster and very popular.
He was very bright and outgoing, a keen sports fan and a talented boxer, Mr Earley said.
He was a son of Philip and Nellie O'Connor. A cousin said the parents were inconsolable with grief and the mother spent all night hoping against hope he would walk in the door as he was a very good swimmer.
Lyndsey Kiely , a non-swimmer who is still missing, was a daughter of John and Ann Kiely and the eldest in the family.
Her uncle, Michael Kiely, said she was a very quiet respectable girl, very sensible and loved school. She always did her homework before going out.
The principal of St Nessan's College, Moylish, Ms Margaret McMahon, where Lydsey studied, told of the shock and disbelief and sadness.
"Lyndsey was very popular, a very good student and soccer player," she said.
Victor O'Connor was a member of Corpus Christi Boxing Club in Moyross. The secretary of the Limerick Boxing Board, Ms Anna Moore, said: "We were having a boxing board meeting when the news came through. Our deepest sympathy goes to the families and I cannot express my feelings of sadness fully, as a mother myself."
A spokesman for the ESB expressed sympathy to the families in their bereavement and said the ESB was continuing to facilitate all requests from the emergency services. The turbines were still switched off yesterday. and the ESB said it would be reviewing all safety aspects following the drownings.