Body found in water as search to find missing student is stood down
The search for missing Clare student, Michael Bugler, was stood down yesterday following the discovery of a body in the water near Oranmore.
Galway Lifeboat members and divers retrieved the body from the sea at Ardfry, Oranmore at around 12.30pm on Thursday afternoon after members of the search party had raised the alarm.
The body was taken to University Hospital Galway for formal identification last evening and the family of the missing NUI Galway were contacted by Gardai.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed to the Galway City Tribune last evening that the body of a male had been retrieved from the sea near Oranmore shortly before lunchtime on Thursday.
“The formal identification process that applies in such circumstances has now been put in train,” said the Garda spokesperson.
Mary Power, an aunt of the 20-year-old law student from Clare, who has been missing since December 18, said the family is “devastated” but takes some solace in, and are extremely thankful for, the generosity of volunteers who have contributed in any way to the search operation.
“I can’t believe that this has happened to us,” said Ms Power.
“It’s very difficult. It’s cruel really. It’s an awful thing to happen. It is a freak thing really. It is just cruel but we have to face it and deal with it . . .”
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.