A boat club said yesterday it had not given permission for the use of a 16ft launch in which a man died and three others were rescued during an early morning incident on the Shannon in Co Limerick.

Flood response efforts are continuing across the Mid-West, with local authority staff, fire and rescue crews, the ESB, the army and the Gardaí providing 24-hour response to the flooding crisis on the ground.

Limerick County Council has announced the closure of the R525 Castleconnell to Montpelier-O'Briensbridge Road, near the railway bridge, due to flooding.