The body of Ms Nodlaig McDaid, the Co Donegal woman who had been missing from her home in Letterkenny since early last Tuesday morning, has been found in her car, which was submerged off Buncrana pier. The discovery was made by members of the RNLI and the town's sub-aqua club just before 4 p.m. yesterday.
Supt Declan O'Brien, who co-ordinated the search for Ms McDaid, said foul play was not suspected.
Ms McDaid (26), an official with the North West Regional Health Board, was last seen in the Orchard pub in Letterkenny in the early hours of New Year's Day. She lived at Sylvan Park in Letterkenny, but originally came from the Border village of Muff.
She is survived by her parents, Hugh, a Customs officer, and Marjorie, a casualty nurse in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital, and her brothers, Fergus and Finbar.
Supt O'Brien said it was believed Ms McDaid's Volkswagen Polo car had been in Lough Swilly for some days. "The body was identified by a member of Ms McDaid's family. Naturally it is a very difficult time for them, and on behalf of the gardaí I would like to express my sincere sympathy.
"On behalf of the McDaid family I would also like to thank the many voluntary groups and local people who helped us during the search operation. I would particularly like to thank the PSNI in Derry as well as the Foyle Search and Rescue organisation in Derry for the tremendous assistance they gave to us," he said.