A full scale search and rescue operation is continuing in Ballina for a man who was seen in difficulty in the River Moy at around 6.30am last Sunday morning.
As the search operation enters its sixth day, hopes of finding the man alive have faded.
Involved in the search are the Irish coastguard helicopter, the Killala coastguard unit, the Grainne Uaile sub-aqua club, the civil defence as well as local volunteers who continue to walk the banks of the river.
Just after noon yesterday the search and rescue helicopter did a full sweep of the river while the Grainne Uaile divers were in the river in the morning.
A group of volunteers walked Enniscrone beach yesterday morning in the hopes of finding the body of the man.
Yesterday afternoon Roscommon and Loughrea sub-aqua clubs joined the search and a sniffer dog from Northern Ireland was brought along the length of the river in a boat.
The search is now concentrating on the Quay area of the River Moy and continues each day until the light fades at around 7pm.
A Ballina garda spokesperson has commended the “amazing community spirit” that has gone into the search. “Every morning there are lots of locals out walking the bank of the river,” she told the Mayo Advertiser.
A woman is also still missing from the Foxford area. Teresa Loftus from Cloontowart, Lisacul was last seen on Friday, March 4. Her car was found in Foxford the following day and searches have been underway for her since.
Gardaí in Foxford are leading the investigation and are asking anyone who may have seen a lady in a Roscommon registered red Opel Corsa at the rear of Main Street, Foxford at 7.50pm on Thursday, March 3, to contact them on 094 925 6102, Swinford Gardaí on 094 925 2990 or Castlebar gardaí on 094 962 1630.
