Search stood down after woman's body recovered in Galway

The search for a woman missing in Galway Bay has been stood down, following the recovery of a body this afternoon.

The development came on the eleventh day of an extensive, multi agency operation, in an effort to locate Máire Ní Fhátharta.

The 32-year-old was one of two people reported missing from Silverstrand beach in Galway, on 12 November. Songwriter Johnny Duhan was recovered from the water shortly afterwards.

The remains, which have yet to be formally identified, were found in waters a short distance from where Ms Ní Fháthatra went missing.

The Shannon-based Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter conducted a detailed sweep of a section of Galway Bay, close to the beach, for much of this afternoon.

That aerial review was augmented by the efforts of volunteers who have spent the last week and a half carrying out a coastline search, along with local boat owners, RNLI crews, kayakers and paddle boarders at sea.

The body was removed from the water at around 4pm, and taken to University Hospital Galway where a post mortem examination will be carried out.

In a message to those involved in the search this evening, Ms Ní Fhátharta's family expressed their gratitude for the kindness, dedication and generosity shown to them over the last eleven days.

Hundreds of local people were involved in a detailed search at sea and on land, since Ms Ní Fhátharta went missing, in dense fog, last Tuesday week.

The search, co-ordinated by gardaí, also involved the coast guard, civil defence teams, RNLI crews and multiple other volunteer rescue groups from around the country.

An online fundraiser to cover the costs involved for the search has raised over €200,000.

All monies left over following the conclusion of the search will be donated to the voluntary organisations that participated in the operation.