Naval officer dies in tragic accident

Gardaí in West Cork are today treating the death of a 34-year-old member of the Naval Service as a tragic accident.

The father-of-two drowned in Schull harbour in the early hours of this morning.

Robert O'Keeffe from Doneraile in North Cork was among a group of personnel from the LE Aisling who had been on shore leave in Schull last night.

When the group returned by launch to the ship at around 2.30am it was discovered that he was not on board.

The launch returned to Schull expecting to find him waiting to be collected but instead came across his body in the water.

The 34-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was brought to Bantry General Hospital.

A full post-mortem will be carried out at Cork University Hospital later today.

Gardaí have examined the scene and say they are treating the drowning as a tragic accident.

The LE Aisling which was on fishery patrol duty off the South West Coast is returning to Naval Headquarters at Haulbowline.