Five members of the same family who died after a car plunged off a pier and into the sea in County Donegal have been named.
Sean McGrotty, 49, died along with his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, 8, his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels, 59, and Ruth’s daughter Jodie Lee Daniels, 14, at Buncrana in the Republic of Ireland on Sunday evening.
Mr McGrotty lived just across the border with his wife Louise and their children at St Eithne’s Park in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry.
Ms Daniels lived with her daughter and her four sons Joshua, Kyle, Nathan and Jonathan in Ederowen.
Mrs McGrotty had been at a family event in England and returned home on Sunday night to be told that her husband, her two sons, her mother and her sister had all died.
Jim McGrotty, a brother of Sean, told the Irish Times: "There has been a constant stream of callers arriving at the house since word of who was involved has become public.
"On behalf of the family we wish to thank those people for their support and for their love at this very difficult time for us all.
"Words cannot express the enormity of the tragedy which has befallen our family.
"We are all numbed by this tragedy which has visited us.
"If there is anything good which has come out of it, it is the fact that baby Rionaghac-Ann has been saved."
Reports suggest Mrs McGrotty's four-month-old baby was handed to a bystander, a man from Kerrykeel, who is understood to have swam towards the sinking car to help.
Jim McGrotty thanked the "brave" man on behalf of the family.
The baby is in a stable condition in Letterkenny Hospital, where she is "doing well", according to Superintendent Colm Nevin.
Witness Francis Crawford said the man, who had quickly stripped down to his underwear before swimming out to the car, was a hero.
He said: "When he came back he was totally exhausted. I think if he had another five yards to go - I can't see how he would have made it."
It is believed the family may have stopped to admire the sunset but the slipway leading down to the lough was covered in algae and may have been slippery.
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said on Twitter: "Very sad news of fatalities in an incident at Buncrana Pier.
"Thoughts are with relatives of those involved and rescue services."
Irish police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 9320540, The Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any police station.
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