Buncrana tragedy: Vigil will be held for victims

Hundreds are expected to attend special ceremony after drowning in Co Donegal

The victims of the Buncrana pier tragedy have been returned home. The funeral takes place at the Church of the Holy Family in Ballymagroarty on March 24th.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a special vigil in memory of the victims of last Sunday's drowning at Buncrana Pier, Co Donegal.

Five people died when their jeep slipped off the pier and entered the water just after 7pm.

The dead included Seán McGrotty, his partner’s two sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his partner’s mother Ruth Daniels (59) and sister Jodie Lee Daniels (14).

The vigil, on a green area on the shorefront in Buncrana, will take place on Sunday at 7pm, to coincide with the exact time of the tragedy.

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The vigil has been arranged by Cllr Rena Donaghey of Fianna Fáil.

She said the vigil was not just for the people who died in the tragedy but also for their family and friends, the emergency services and those who tried to save the victims.

“We are expecting a lot of people to attend and we are hoping many of our neighbours from Derry who have been directly touched by this tragedy will also come along.”

She said it is important that people are given a chance to come together to grieve a week after the tragedy.

Shrine

Meanwhile, hundreds of people continue to visit the scene of the incident.

A shrine of teddy bears and flowers has been built close to the pier.