Member of Defence Forces dies in Spain

It is understood that the Department of Foreign Affairs is liaising with the Defence Force's member's family at this stage. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The Defence Forces has suffered another tragedy with the news that "a well-known and highly respected member" has died following what is believed to be a malfunction with his parachutes while he was on holiday in Spain.

Any inquiry into his death will have to focus on why his main parachute did not open in the first instance, and if there was a back-up reserve parachute in the pack, and why did that not activate.