A tragic discovery has been made off the coast of Co Clare as a body was recovered from the sea during the search for a 12-year-old boy who went missing near the Cliffs of Moher last Tuesday. The body was spotted by a fishing vessel between Doolin and the Aran Islands, prompting immediate action from local coast guard units.

The Doolin Coast Guard Unit, assisted by the Aran Islands RNLI, located and recovered the body, which was then transferred to An Garda Siochána. The remains were brought to Doolin Pier aboard the Doolin Delta boat and have since been transported to University Hospital Limerick for formal identification and a postmortem examination.

The multi-agency search operation, involving personnel from eight counties, was initiated after the boy became separated from his mother during a visit to the famous cliffs. The search included efforts from air, land, and sea units, employing the latest technology including drones and advanced drift modelling software to predict the movement of the body in the water.

Teams from the Clare Civil Defence and the Garda Water Unit were pivotal in the shoreline searches, with additional support from Civil Defence units across several counties, including UAV specialists.

The operation faced challenges such as deteriorating sea conditions and low visibility due to clouds and mist, which hampered the search efforts. However, the extensive coordination between the various teams underlined the community’s commitment to finding the missing child.

The search has now been officially stood down following the recovery of the body. The community and the involved agencies extend their deepest condolences to the family of the young boy during this profoundly difficult time. Further updates will be provided following the postmortem examination and formal identification process.