Drowned man had been swimming

GARDAÍ believe a 61-year-old Co Limerick man drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming off the east Cork coast.

The man’s body was spotted floating in the water at Ballycotton Bay at around 4.30pm on Wednesday by a the crew of a local fishing boat.

They contacted the emergency services and the Ballycotton lifeboat was sent out to retrieve the body which was brought back to the lifeboat station.

A post mortem was carried out at Cork University Hospital yesterday by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.

A senior Garda spokesman said the dead man was from Kilmallock, Co Limerick, but added that gardaí wouldn’t be releasing his name until all his relatives had been informed.

The man’s silver Opel Astra hatchback was found parked near the cliffs to the west of Ballycotton pier.

“He had a towel ready in the car to dry himself off. We believe he got into difficulty and drowned,” the spokesman said.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Midleton Garda Station at [phone].