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File image of Ballybunion beach in Co Kerry. RollingNews.ie

Brother and sister who died after getting into difficulty in Ballybunion named locally

The two people who died were siblings – a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s.

LAST UPDATE | 5 Aug 2022

THE SIBLINGS WHO died in a drowning incident in Ballybunion Beach have been named locally.

The brother and sister, who got into difficulty in the water in Co Kerry on Thursday evening, were pronounced dead at the scene.

They have been named as Desmond Byrne, aged 50 and his sister Muriel Eriksson, aged 62.

Mr Byrne, who was originally from Athlone, was living in Lecarrow, Co Roscommon, while Ms Eriksson had an address in Malmo, Sweden

The Taoiseach has offered his condolences to the families and friends of the siblings.

Micheal Martin said: “We’re all deeply shocked and saddened at this very tragic and heart-breaking loss of life on what was a beautiful day.

“I want to extend my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, particularly to those family members who were present and who witnessed this heart-breaking tragedy.

“I want to pay tribute also to our first responders and emergency services who did everything they could as quickly as they could to respond to the emergency that unfolded.

“It reminds us all of how treacherous the seas and oceans can be. But at this point in time our deepest sympathies and hearts are with the people who have been bereaved as a result of this very, very sad tragedy.”

A garda spokesperson said post-mortem examinations will take place in “due course”. 

Gardaí and emergency services were alerted at around 6pm yesterday evening after the siblings got into difficulty in the water at Ballybunion beach. 

“They were taken from the water and pronounced dead a short time later. The bodies of both have been removed from the scene by ambulance to the mortuary in University Hospital Kerry,” the garda spokesperson said. 

Desmond was a member of the Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club.

Chair of the club Noel Galvin said he will be a “big loss” to the village and the cycling club. 

“It’s a huge tragedy and people are just finding it hard to comprehend what went on, what happened. It’s just terrible,” Galvin told RTÉ radio’s News at One.

“The whole community here is just shocked and saddened.

He was a very prominent member of our community, he was a very popular member of our local cycling club.

“It’s just terrible, terrible news.” 

He said Desmond had a carpet-fitting business and is “known well throughout the midlands”. 

He was also involved in charity cycles and other fundraiser events within the community. 

“We’re only a small parish and he was active in everything that we did within the parish. Any fundraiser that we had, he was always there, always helping out or else fundraising himself. He was well liked and he’ll be well missed.”

Local councillor Robert Beasley told The Journal last night that people in Ballybunion were “shocked” by the incident.

“We’re not familiar with that kind of tragedy in Ballybunion, thanks be to God, but this is a terrible day for the town,” he said.

“Everyone seems shocked and bewildered. One death through drowning is bad, but two is a terrible, terrible shock. People are in awe, really, both visitors and locals alike. Completely shell shocked.”

Additional reporting by Niall O’Connor and PA.   

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    Mute Thewestisbest
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:13 AM

    The guards are giving it a fair disruption this weather. Fair play to them. Over to you judiciary.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:14 AM

    @Thewestisbest: This has given the Gardaí a great opportunity to get a jump on the criminals, and credit to them for taking it.

    290
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    Mute Forest Hump
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:48 AM

    @Thewestisbest: unfortunately that’s where the ball will be dropped. Lenient sentences for all because, you know, they were only having a bit of fun sure

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:11 PM

    @Thewestisbest: a little slap on the wrist. Cant lock up the money go round

    21
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    Mute Justice Mickey
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:16 AM

    Gárda 10
    Drug importers 0
    Well done Gárda.
    Now just keep a certain few judges away from these cases

    514
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    Mute Martin Scaldbag
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    Apr 26th 2020, 5:54 PM

    @Justice Mickey: cold turkey for the north county.

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    Mute pomerleau
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:17 AM

    Well done !!!
    I love these stories, brilliant !!

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:16 AM

    Nice one!

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:06 AM

    Dealers seem to be coming under serious pressure this past few weeks. Loads of videos turning up of house raids across Dublin. Maybe it’s a bit easier now to spot the junkies and the addresses they are going to. Curtain twitchers reporting multiple people calling to neighbours homes is probably helping as well.

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:36 AM

    They’re in real trouble if they were more than 2km from home.

    129
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    Mute brian reid
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:10 AM

    We were only going to the shops your honour…

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:40 AM

    ——And of course Free Legal Aid despite the massive value of the drugs they were peddling .

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    Mute Peter Murphy
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:35 AM

    Clean up the streets

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    Mute Aaron Jones
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:58 AM

    @Peter Murphy: somehow I don’t think so the only way you’ll clean the streets is with a power-hose:-/

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    Mute Colin Mcgahon
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:21 PM

    @Aaron Jones: I really think the council are missing a golden opportunity to power wash all the side streets of Dublin.

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    Mute Aaron Jones
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    Apr 26th 2020, 2:02 PM

    @Colin Mcgahon: yeah ya would think they would be out cleaning now that’s it’s quiet,but due lack of funds from the government it’ll still look like a tramps arse!

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    Mute Steve Hehir
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    Apr 26th 2020, 12:11 PM

    In fairness, the lockdown situation is playing right into Garda hands!…

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    Mute Stee Lynto
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    Apr 26th 2020, 10:22 AM

    Was it 2.5 million or 2.5 kilometres

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    Mute Aaron Jones
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:45 AM
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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Apr 26th 2020, 12:23 PM

    @Aaron Jones: :-)

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    Mute Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier)
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:26 AM

    3 lackeys arrested who were probably doing jobs to ease their children’s drug debt.

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    Mute john s
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    Apr 26th 2020, 12:37 PM

    @Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier): sob story . I doubt it more than likely hardened drug dealers

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    Apr 26th 2020, 12:55 PM

    @Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier): Is that the story you’ll be telling the Judge?

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:13 PM

    @Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier): Well all they have to do to give the information to the guards.

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    Mute Mr Jerry Curtin (gurrier)
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    Apr 26th 2020, 11:25 AM

    A drop in the ocean in fairness.

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    Mute Tom Joe Ryan
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:10 PM

    Where is Blake’s Cross in Dublin?????

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    Mute Will Thompson
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:17 PM

    @Tom Joe Ryan: back of airport I think

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    Mute Robert Clifford
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:20 PM

    @Tom Joe Ryan: Out beyond Swords if your heading towards Lusk.

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Apr 26th 2020, 2:35 PM

    @Tom Joe Ryan: Blake’s Cross?? I’d say he’s absolutely Livid.

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    Mute Ann Harman
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    Apr 26th 2020, 4:03 PM

    @Tom Joe Ryan: County Dublin old Belfast Rd between Swords and Balbriggan

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    Apr 26th 2020, 5:34 PM

    @Tom Joe Ryan: The old N1 on the junction with the Rush/Lusk turn

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    Mute Mark Gough
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    Apr 26th 2020, 6:01 PM

    Delighted

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    Apr 26th 2020, 6:46 PM

    ….and a gun

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    Mute Will Thompson
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    Apr 26th 2020, 1:17 PM

    Back of airport I think

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