Buncrana victims' funeral

Flowers left at the scene at Buncrana Pier in Co Donegal after five people, including at least two children, have been killed and a baby girl is in hospital after a car they were in slipped from the pier

The funeral procession for all five of those who died is expected to move off from St Eithne’s Park in Hazelbank this afternoon and wind its way down to the Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty for the service, due to begin at 2pm.

Ruth Daniels, her 14-year-old daughter Jodie-Lee, Ruth’s son-in-law Sean McGrotty and his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8) all died after the car they were in slid into the waters off the slipway at Buncrana Pier on Sunday during a family trip.

Baby Rioghnach-Ann, the daughter of Mr McGrotty and his partner Louise James, was the sole survivor of the tragic accident, following the heroic intervention of local man Davitt Walsh, who jumped into the water from the pier and swam out to the sinking car before bringing the baby back to shore.

Another witness, Francis Crawford from Buncrana, was instrumental in raising the alarm and contacting emergency services from the scene.

There have been a series of heartbreaking testimonies from eyewitnesses and emergency personnel who attended the scene about the events which followed.

The tragedy has rocked the north west and a series of candle-lit vigils were being suggested across

The funeral service today will be followed by burial in the City Cemetery.

The family earlier this week had asked for donations in lieu of flowers to Muscular Dystrophy UK (Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund) c/o Ms Cathryn Gibson, 29 Cranmore Park, Belfast BT9 6JF.