Prayers are expected to be said around Donegal today to mark the fifth anniversary of the Buncrana pier tragedy.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no public commemorations.
However, Louise James and her daughter, Ríoghnach, mark today’s fifth anniversary of the day when she lost almost all of her family.
Her partner Sean McGrotty (49), sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), mother Ruth Daniels (57) and sister Jodie-Lee Daniels (14) all drowned when their car slid into the sea on algae on a slipway at Buncrana pier on March 20, 2016.
Brothers Mark and Evan McGrotty who tragically died in Buncrana pier tragedy
As the car began to sink into the chilly waters of Lough Swilly, Mr McGrotty managed to pass his baby daughter out to Kerrykeel man, Davitt Walsh, who bravely swam out to the vehicle.
Jodie Lee Daniels who died in Buncrana pier tragedy.
Tributes were paid to Mr Walsh who braved the dangerous tides to rescue baby Ríoghnach.
At the inquest into the deaths, Garda Inspector David Murphy said Mr Walsh was “an ordinary man who did an extraordinary thing.”
Ruth Daniels
The inquest, held in Buncrana, also heard that Mr McGrotty was three times over the drink-drive alcohol limit at the time of the tragedy.
Sean McGrotty who died along with his two sons in the Buncrana pier tragedy
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