Baltimore deaths - Triple tragedy

From a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, to slaughter in Tunisia and now to an horrific accident in West Cork, unspeakable tragedy has visited our shores over the past few weeks.

The latest involves the deaths of three people who were swept to their deaths in a freak accident at the mouth of Baltimore harbour.

A father, his adult son, and the son’s girlfriend were doing what thousands of Irish people do on a summer’s evening — walking on the shoreline and enjoying the fresh air.

They were walking close to the Beacon at the mouth of Baltimore harbour when the young woman was swept into the sea by a freak wave and father and son tried to rescue her, before all three got into difficulty.

Barry Ryan, 51, his son Barry Davis and Barry Jr’s 20-year-old Niamh O’Connor died close to the Beacon at the mouth of Baltimore Harbour

This triple tragedy serves as a reminder that danger lurks even in the most tranquil of places.