Tributes paid to Co Cork drowning victims

Moving tributes were paid today to a mum and her two children who died in a tragic swimming accident in Castletownroche yesterday.

Ita Noonan (aged 49) her son David (aged 23) and daughter Emma (aged 20) drowned in a treacherous spot on the River Awbeg.

Ita, a secretary at the North Cork Garda Divisional Headquarters in Fermoy, was described as bubbly, outgoing, full of life and an extremely popular colleague.

Superintendent Flor Horan, Fermoy, said: “Ita was a very bubbly and outgoing person. She was full of life and highly competent at her job.

“She was extremely well-known by everyone in the district and her death has left a sense of shock and disbelief among her colleagues.”

Ita had moved to Castletownroche last September from Freemount, near Charleville, where her husband Dave from whom she was separated lived with their daughter Emma.

They had moved there in recent years from Doneraile. Ita was one of the Rea family of Ballyhea, well-known in hurling circles.

Emma had been studying for a Higher Certificate in Business and Accounting at CIT.

A spokesman for the college said today: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family who have suffered greatly through this appallingly devastating tragedy.”

David worked for Castlelands Construction in Mallow.

Alan Daly, director of the company, said: “David had only been working for us for a short period of time, however, everyone is deeply shocked at this awful tragedy.”

Yesterday’s sequence of events are still unclear. It is understood that one of the three got into difficulty and the others had attempted to help.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo