LAST UPDATE | 27 Jun 2023

A 22-YEAR-OLD Laois man who died in Greece on Sunday has been named locally as Rory Deegan from Cullohill.

RTÉ reports that he was found unresponsive after drowning in a swimming pool on the island of Zakynthos.

Local Fine Gael councillor John King told The Journal that the tragic news of Rory’s death has put “a tremendous darkness over the area”.

“I wish to convey my sympathies to his family and the extended family. It’s a very difficult time for the community for such a young person to go away for a few days and for this to happen,” he said.

“His family are a very well known farming family and business family as well and seriously involved in the local Harps GAA club, where Rory played.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has told The Journal that it has been made aware of the incident and is currently providing consular assistance.

In a statement, the DFA said:  “The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

With reporting from David Mac Redmond