THE BODIES of two young men who had been missing in Waterford and Galway since last month were recovered at the weekend. Both men drowned, one of them after he attempted to rescue a friend from the river Suir.
Ross Grant (18), from Manor St John in Lisduggan, Waterford, entered the Suir near the Clock Tower in Waterford at about 4am on February 24th after a friend had apparently jumped into the water.
Gardaí, the Waterford City Fire Service and the Waterford River Rescue Service rushed to the scene and rescued Mr Grant's friend from the water.
Mr Grant, who had been due to begin an apprenticeship course with Fás, had been missing since, despite the efforts of Garda divers, volunteers from the Irish Coast Guard, river rescue services and the Civil Defence over the past five weeks.
His body was located in the Suir near the Marina Hotel, about 100 metres downriver from where he had entered the water at 12.15pm on Saturday.
His remains were taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where he was identified by his mother, Margaret.
"At last we can bury him now, at least we're not waiting. You hear so many stories of people waiting and waiting in situations like these. Everybody has been great, the gardaí, priests, the neighbours, everybody," Ms Grant said yesterday.
"He lived the way he died, defending somebody else. He was always fighting someone else's corner."
Volunteers had been searching the river for Mr Grant's body on a daily basis.
The youth's 17-year-old sister Cindy had set up a tribute on Bebo.com entitled, RIP Ross Grant. One friend wrote: "RIP Ross . . . u died a hero and that's what u'll be remembered for!!!!" "Rest in peace Ross . . . U'll never be forgotten," said another.
Mr Grant's remains will be taken from Waterford Regional Hospital to St Paul's Church at 7.30 this evening and will be buried at St Otteran's cemetery tomorrow following 10am Mass.
In Galway, gardaí have confirmed that the body of a Co Longford student who was reported missing last month has been found. The body of Michael Hughes (20), from Farragh, Killoe, Co Longford, was discovered during a coastal search at Oranmore at the weekend.
Mr Hughes, a student at the University of Limerick, was reported missing on February 20th. He was last seen outside a night club in Galway city centre in the early hours of that morning, having travelled to the city to participate in Rag Week events.