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Family holiday turns to
tragedy
04.11.08
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
A CARNDONAGH family are trying to come to terms with
a terrible tragedy after a local father of three was
drowned in a tragic accident while on holiday in the
Spanish island of Majorca last week.
Thirty-five year-old Sean McDaid from Carndonagh had
been missing for three days before his body was
found in a canal near the Majorcan resort of Alcudia
last Friday.
The well-known plasterer had travelled on the family
holiday to the Spanish resort with his wife Ellen
and children Cashel (7), Robbie (5) and Sapphire
Rose (3).
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent yesterday, his
devastated brother Neil described the tragedy as a
terrible accident that “could have happened to any
of us.” |
He explained that his
brother had failed to return after going for a few
drinks with his wife and family last Tuesday night.
He remained out after the others returned home, and
left the bar in the early hours of last Wednesday
morning. It was the last time he was seen alive.
Speaking from Majorca, Sean’s brother James said
that there were no barriers alongside the canal.
“There’s just a ledge there, it’s like stepping off
a kerb and onto the street.” |
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Weather on the night
was rough, with what were described as freak winds.
A woman drowned in the same canal last year, and a
number of other people have had lucky escapes after
falling into it in recent months. Sean’s mother
Maureen asked yesterday how many more people have to
drown before authorities take action to make the
dangerous canal safe.
Yesterday was a public holiday in Spain, and the
authorities will carry out a post-mortem on Sean’s
body later today. Police are not looking for anyone
in connection with the tragedy and no foul play was
involved.
One of six brothers and three sisters, Sean is also
survived by his parents Billy and Maureen.
“Sean was a loving brother and well liked and highly
thought of by everyone that knew him,” Neil said.
“He was a loving husband – him and Ellen truly were
soul mates – and he’ll be sorely missed. He had a
strong faith, and while the grieving won’t properly
start until he comes home, we’ll all need to draw on
that strength in the coming days.”
The Irish embassy in Madrid is providing consular
assistance to the family. The family hopes that his
body will return to Ireland tomorrow or Thursday,
with the funeral to take place afterwards. |
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