Warm tributes to sea victim

Tributes have been paid to the experienced fisherman and father of three whose body was recovered from the water off West Cork on Thursday.

John Gerard Lowney, who died in an accident at Dinish Pier in Castletownbere, was described last night as a well-liked and hugely respected man who was devoted to his family.

Fine Gael TD, Noel Harrington, who knew him well, said he will be sorely missed.

“He was a hardworking and resourceful man who had great insight. He was a devoted family man and had a great love of GAA — GAA was a passion and he was very involved in under age GAA both in Urhan and across Beara.

“He was chairman of Beara Coiste na nÓg and devoted a huge amount of his time to the game. He fostered a great love of football in his boys.”

Mr Lowney worked on a salmon well boat — a boat which transports live salmon from fish farms to the pier. It is understood the boat returned to Dinish Pier on Wednesday evening and was not scheduled to offload its cargo until the following morning.

However, his body was spotted in the water near the pier by crew on board a departing Spanish fishing vessel, who raised the alarm.

His body was recovered a short time later by local fishermen and the coast guard.

There were distressing scenes on the pier as fisherman tried frantically to revive him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

But he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The results of a post-mortem examination will inform gardaí as they prepare a file for the coroner.

Mr Lowney is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children. Their daughter was making arrangements to return from London while their oldest son is returning from the US.

A rosary takes place tonight, with removal tomorrow followed by burial in Ardgroom on Monday.