Updated 1pm
BOOKS OF CONDOLENCE will open in Buncrana and Derry today following the tragic deaths of five members of the one family on Sunday.
Two adults and three children lost their lives when the SUV they were in slipped on algae and went off the pier in Buncrana, Co Donegal at around 7.30pm.
This afternoon, their remains were brought by hearse to their homes in Derry.
Seán McGrotty and his children, Mark (12), Evan (8) and daughter Rionaghac-Ann (four months) were in the vehicle, along with their grandmother Ruth Daniels and her daughter Jodie Lee-Daniels (14).
The McGrotty family were brought from the funeral home this morning to their home in St Eithne’s Park. TV3 reported that a cortege carrying the remains arrived at the park in the last hour.
A funeral service for the members of the McGrotty and Daniels families will take place in Derry at 2pm on Thursday.
The baby girl was passed out of the jeep’s window to a bystander who had jumped into the water to help. She survived and is said to be “doing very well” in hospital.
The remaining five family members all drowned. Relatives are now awaiting the release of their loved’ ones remains.
The wife of Seán McGrotty and mother of the two boys and the rescued baby girl, Louise Daniels, was in England when the tragedy occurred.
Speaking to reporters Sean McGrotty’s brother Frank said, ”It has come as an unbelievable shock. This has devastated the whole family.
I don’t how we’re gonna come back from this one … the whole family just wiped out.
“I can’t imagine how Louise is going to get on with her life, how she’s going to pick up the pieces from this. We’re all totally devastated.”
McGrotty said the family will “have to take one day at a time” and put their faith in God.
“I’d like to thank everybody who has sent their well wishes to the family. It is a hard time, a very hard time.”
- Additional reporting Aoife Barry
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