Irishman drowns in holiday tragedy

A holiday in the Canary Islands turned to tragedy when a 19-year-old Co Leitrim man drowned within 24 hours of arriving at the Playa del Ingles resort on Gran Canaria.

Michael Clancy, the only son of Michael and Marie Clancy of Carrick Road, Manorhamilton, drowned in a swimming accident on Sunday night.

Michael and a number of pals from his home town had arrived on Saturday to begin their holiday at the resort.

“He was a quiet and unassuming young man. The whole town is in shock,” a Manorhamilton resident said last night. “Michael comes from a very decent family. He was involved with the local boxing club.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were offering the deceased man’s family all possible consular assistance through the Irish embassy in Madrid.

Meanwhile, a search involving the Garda Sub Aqua unit as well as the Monaghan and Boyne River Rescue teams was continuing yesterday at Greaghlane Lake near Magheracloone in Co Monaghan for a 26-years-old man who was reported missing at the weekend.

It was thought the victim, Mark O’Sullivan, single, of Corduffkelly, Carrickmacross, might have fallen into the lake when he failed to return home on Sunday.

Garda Supt Tom Long, Carrickmacross, who was in charge of the operation, called in the Garda Air Support Unit to assist in the search early yesterday.

The missing man’s parents, Gerard and Phyllis O’Sullivan, were joined at the lakeshore by a local priest and other members of the family and friends as the divers and boat crews continued the search.