The bodies of two brothers, who were last seen at a family party on Saturday night, were taken from the Barrow river in Co Carlow yesterday.
A large crowd of neighbours gathered on the river bank at Bagenalstown when the bodies of the two men, Jody (39) and Jim McGrath (36), were removed from the river by divers from the Garda water unit.
The two had attended the 40th birthday party of their sister, Ms Brenda Dowling, in Jimmy D's pub in the town on Saturday. They were last seen at about 10.30 p.m. when they left the premises to have a drink on the river bank, about 100 yards away.
Gardaí said yesterday there was nothing at this stage to indicate foul play. It is believed one of the men may have fallen into the river and the other drowned trying to save him. Neither of the men could swim, neighbours said yesterday.
The brothers lived at Kilcarrig, Bagenalstown, with their widowed mother, Bridie, and other family members. Both were single and when they did not return home on Saturday night it was thought they might have attended an overnight party.
They were reported missing to the Garda on Sunday afternoon and concern for their safety increased when they did not collect their unemployment assistance on Tuesday.
Mr Jim McGrath's body was discovered at 2.20 p.m. yesterday and that of his older brother nearly four hours later, about 500 yards downstream. Prayers were said over the bodies by a local curate, Father Kevin Walsh, before they were removed to Waterford Regional Hospital for post-mortems.
Mr Arthur McDonald, a local Fianna Fáil councillor and neighbour of the two men, said people were "just numbed" by what had happened. "It didn't dawn on people first that they could be in the river but as time passed the likelihood grew. They were two very decent, quiet lads."
As well as their mother, the deceased are survived by four brothers and three sisters.
