Tributes to marine industry professional who died after dock fall

Tributes have been paid to a leading professional in the marine industry who died in an incident in Galway on Thursday evening.

Galway Maritime Ltd director Steve Ackland was repairing a yacht in Galway docks when he fell into the water. He was recovered by emergency services shortly after 5pm.

Efforts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful. He was taken to University Hospital Galway where he later died. A postmortem was due to be carried out.

Mr Ackland, who was in his mid-40s and married with children, was originally from Hamble in Southampton, southern England.

The Irish Marine Federation said it was shocked at news of his death. "Acky was a highly regarded chandler around these shores and in his native Hamble," said chairman David O'Brien.