A Donegal schoolgirl has been drowned during a family holiday in France. Catherine Breen (14), from Mullindrait, near Stranorlar, was with her father, Liam, mother Theresa and brothers when she got into difficulties while swimming in a pool at a campsite in Brittany. Frantic efforts by her parents and pool assistants to resuscitate her failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The teenager, a twin, was a pupil at St Columba's College, Stranorlar, and last night the principal, Mr Brian McCauley, said the teachers and pupils were devastated.
"Catherine was a very popular girl in the school and a very talented athlete. She was very bright, witty and overall a wonderful student. She enriched the school with her presence and she will be a great loss," he said.
Her parents were last night making arrangements to have her body taken home.
Gardai yesterday named a man whose body was taken from the sea at Bray Head, Co Wicklow, on Sunday night. He was Mr Paul Carey (20) from Columbanus Road, Milltown, Dublin. He got into difficulties while swimming. Another man was rescued after a third raised the alarm.