Irishman's body pulled from World Trade Centre rubble

The Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that the body of a fifth Irish person has been recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Centre in New York.

53-year-old Martin Coughlan, from Cappawhite in Co Tipperary, was working as a carpenter in the south tower when the building collapsed after being hit by a hijacked airplane.

Mr Coughlan’s distraught relatives have said they are relieved that his body has been found.

Up to 20 Irish people are believed to have died in the World Trade Centre but according to reports this morning, around 30 illegal Irish immigrants were also working in the twin towers.

Their relatives are apparently reluctant to inform the US authorities because the men were working with fake union cards.