Sub-aqua club divers criticise gardaí after body recovered

SUB-AQUA club divers who yesterday recovered the body of a missing Leitrim man from the River Shannon have criticised gardaí for their management of the rescue operation - and they have called for a national debate on the relationship between gardaí and sub-aqua club divers.

Members of Roscommon and Lough Ree and Mullingar, as well as one diver each from Ennis and Manorhamilton sub-aqua clubs, found the body of Matthew Armstrong, aged 20, yesterday. Mr Armstrong died after being out on the Shannon on a disco boat in the early hours of Sunday morning.

But yesterday Thomas McGlynn, chairman of Lough Ree Sub-Aqua Club, said they “were made little of” by gardaí in charge of the operation to rescue Mr Armstrong.