A memorial service is to be on Monday for a father-of-one who died just hours after summiting the world’s highest mountain.

The search for missing father of one and Trinity College Professor Séamus Lawless who had been missing since falling on Mount Everest nine days ago has been called off.

The search for Mr Lawless, from Bray, Co Wicklow has now turned into a recovery operation in an area known as the death zone where oxygen levels are very low.

Indian climber Ravi Thakar was found dead inside his tent on Mount Everest at 7,900m Camp Four in Nepal last Friday morning. Severe altitude sickness is being blamed for his death.

The recent tragedy on Mount Everest has sparked an avalanche of bitter accusations among local Sherpas, Western climbers and others with stakes in the world’s highest mountain, writes John Hearne.