Ten years since Buncrana pier tragedy that claimed five members of one family

Today marks 10 years since the tragedy that claimed the lives of five people

Today marks 10 years since five people tragically lost their lives when their jeep plunged off a pier after a family day out.

Sean McGrotty, 49, drowned along with his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight, his wife Louise James’ 14-year-old sister, Jodie-Lee Daniels, and his wife’s mother, Ruth Daniels, 59 in the tragedy in Buncrana, Co Donegal on this day 10 years ago when their car slid off a pier and sank in Lough Swilly shortly after 7.30pm.

Hero bystander Davitt Walsh quickly stripped down to his boxers and dived into the water, saving four month-old baby girl Rioghnach-Ann who was handed to him by her father. Hero Davitt then swam back to shore with the tot.

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The car sank shortly afterwards as it became full of water leading to the five other occupants sadly losing their lives. While coastguard and RNLI crews arrived on the scene within minutes, they were too late, recovering the five bodies from Lough Swilly shortly after.

Mr McGrotty lived with his partner Louise and their children in their family home at St Eithne’s Park in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry. Ruth Daniels lived with her daughter Jodie Lee and her four sons Joshua, Kyle, Nathan and Jonathan at Ederowen, also in Derry.

Heartbroken Louise had returned from a family event in England only to be told that her husband, her two sons, her mother and her sister had all died in the incident.

The tragedy sent shockwaves across Ireland, with tributes pouring in from around the country for the five tragic victims. An inquest held just over a year later recorded a finding of misadventure in Mr McGrotty’s death.

To mark the decade anniversary of the heartbreaking crash, a number of events are being organised in Donegal to celebrate the lives of the five amazing family members who were taken too soon.

The Derry Journal reports that a walk will take place on Sunday, March 22 from Buncrana Play Park to the RNLI station at Ned’s Point, while a Gala Ball will also be held later this year on May 8, the day of Ruth’s birthday. A remembrance mass will also take place on March 20 at 7pm in Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty.

The walk will begin at 11am this Sunday, and Louise has requested those in attendance wear red or white as a tribute. You can register for the walk here.

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