Probe into boat deaths continues

Investigations are underway into the deaths of two men in a boating accident off Inishbofin island in Galway on Saturday night.

The bodies of former Mayo footballer Ger Feeney and businessman Donal McEllin - who were both from Castlebar in Co. Mayo - were found yesterday morning.

It is believed these two men got into difficulty while attempting to make it back to their 41-foot motor cruiser, which was anchored off the island.

They had spent a number of hours ashore on Saturday night and were reportedly wearing lifejackets when they left to return to their boat.

The alarm was raised when the body of one of the men was washed ashore. The RNLI Clifton Lifeboat later discovered the body of the second man under a rigid inflatable boat.

Mr McEllin, 63, was a single well-known businessman who owned the motor crusier, while 56-year-old prominent Mayo footballer Ger Feeney was a married father of four grown-up children

Post mortems have been carried out at University Hospital Galway and gardai and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board have launched separate investigations.