Gardaí confirm two dead fishermen were brothers

Gardaí have confirmed the two fishermen who died after being rescued off the Donegal coast were brothers.

The two, aged 71 and 69, were found around three miles east of the Inishowen Head after 7pm yesterday.

They were named locally as Francis and Daniel McDaid.

The men were from Glengad, an area on the Inishowen peninsula around 3km from Malin Head.

Their vessel was reported missing at about 5pm yesterday close to Inishowen Head.

They died in hospital in Derry overnight, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokeswoman said.

Local Fine Gael councillor and family friend Bernard McGuinness described the pair as experienced fishermen.

“Everybody is just numb with all of this. It’s such a close knit community and people are shocked.

“Yesterday was such a fine day, nobody expected this.”

Both men were married with children and grandchildren and had brothers and sisters living in the area.

“They (the family) are just numbed and shocked by this,” Mr McGuinness said.

Sinn Féin councillor Padraig MacLochlainn said: “Once again this tragedy puts into sharp focus the risks which members of the fishing community have to take to earn a living.

“It is the second such tragedy in this community in recent years and there is deep shock among their friends and neighbours.

“I want to extend my deep condolences to the men’s families.”

Fianna Fáil Donegal North East TD Dr James McDaid said it was a tragedy for the family and county.

“I would like to offer my sympathies to the family,” he said.

“At least their bodies have been recovered, at least that is some consolation for the family.

“But it still must be a terrible shock for them,” he said.