THE MAN recovered from Lough Derg in Co Clare on Saturday has been identified as Tomás Mannion (44) from Ennis, a member of a well-known business family from the town.
Mr Mannion was reported missing on Saturday morning after his relatives became concerned for his safety. It is understood that he had not been heard from for up to 10 days.
A search-and-rescue operation was launched on Lough Derg at about 12.30pm after gardaí were notified that the man had not been seen for more than a week. They were informed that Mr Mannion was believed to have been kayaking in the Scarriff Bay area of Lough Derg and was last seen on February 13th.
The Irish Coast Guard helicopter was called in to assist the Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat, Killaloe Coast Guard and local gardaí in the operation.
Shortly before 2pm, the crew of the Coast Guard helicopter spotted a body in the water, some 200 metres from the shoreline. Rescue boats were dispatched and Mr Mannion's body was recovered. A kayak was located a short distance away. The body was removed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, where a postmortem was carried out.
Gardaí in Killaloe are continuing their investigation but are treating the matter as an accident. Mr Mannion was wearing a buoyancy aid when discovered and is believed to have died from hypothermia after his kayak capsized.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Galway have confirmed that the body of a man found in the shed of an unoccupied house in Ballinasloe last week is that of a missing local man.
A postmortem at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, has identified the body as that of Richard Carrig (28), who had not been seen for a week. Preliminary results suggest Mr Carrig died of smoke inhalation. Gardaí say foul play is not suspected.