Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh has expressed his shock at the tragedy which had occurred at Buncrana in Co Donegal on Sunday.
Devastated young mother Louise McGrotty lost five family members in a car accident when their Audi jeep slid off Buncrana pier in County Donegal and into the waters of Lough Swilly on Sunday evening. At the time of the tragedy Louise McGrotty was returning from a hen party in Liverpool. She lost two young sons, Evan (8) and Mark (12) her sister Jodie Lee (15) and her mother Ruth Daniels (59) and her husband, Sean (49).
The Catholic Primate Archbishop Martin, the former bishop of Derry and a native of Derry, visited the family home in St Eithne’s Park last night to pay his respects and help comfort Louise and other family members.
Archbishop Eamon Martin who is the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland described it as an ‘enormous tragedy’
Archbishop Martin said: “At a time like this I realize that any words of mine are totally inadequate.”
“The enormous tragedy that has struck this family has stunned us all into silence. What can we say? All we can offer is our spiritual presence with them and the promise of our prayers,” he added.
Archbishop Martin also visited the Holy Family Parish Church in Derry to sign the book of condolence and meet the priest who will preside over the funeral service.
The only survivor was her baby daughter Rioghnach-Ann (4 months), thanks to the bravery of passerby Davitt Walsh who swam into the lough, swam to the Audi and managed to take the infant back to the shore.
