Body of tragic Jason found after searches

By Fiona Dillon

The devastated family of a young man who went missing after travelling to Galway Rag Week have thanked volunteers after his body was found.

Jason McNulty (25), from Swinford in Co Mayo, had last been seen at 6am last Wednesday as he left the Connacht Hotel, close to Renmore.

Three days of searches ended on Saturday when a body was located at Roscam, not far from where Jason went missing.

His body was found at around midday on Saturday during coastal searches that were being carried out as part of an extensive search operation to find him.

Following the discovery, his sister Leonie posted a heartfelt message on Facebook thanking everyone who had come out to search for Jason.

support

"A big thanks to everyone for their support and their continued support over the days to come.

"We are truly devastated, RIP Jason," she wrote.

Condolences were extended to the family by many people on Facebook who were deeply saddened to hear the news.

"My condolences Leonie. Sorry to hear about your brother thinking of you and your family," said one poster.

Another one said simply: "RIP Jason McNulty thoughts and prayers are with your family. You will be missed by everyone."

The young man had been working in Castlebar and had travelled to Galway, where the city's unofficial student celebration week was taking place.

Following his disappearance, concerned family and friends of the student had launched appeals on Facebook and Twitter asking people to help find him.

A massive search operation got underway last week.

The gardai in Galway had co-ordinated the major search operation.

He was last seen wearing a dark red shirt and blue jeans.

After he went missing, worried friends had posted online that Jason had no phone on him, and nobody had heard from him or seen him.

The local community in Swinford was plunged into sadness on hearing news of the death of the popular young man, with locals offering their prayers and their support to his grieving family.

"People feel very much for the family in a situation like that," one local told the Herald.

The family home is about two miles outside the town of Swinford, and condolences were extended to the family by callers to their home.

Funeral arrangements had yet to be announced last night.

Jason is survived by his grieving parents and siblings.

vanished

Meanwhile, last Friday a Dublin family gathered to say farewell to Thomas Kennedy at the Church of the Annunciation, in Finglas, after his body washed up in the UK.

Mr Kennedy (81) - who vanished last year from his Dublin home before his body was found in Britain - was described as a "good husband" who "idolised his grandchildren" at his funeral this morning.

Thomas was last seen putting out the bins at his home in Virginia Park on July 29, last year at around 9pm and had not been seen since.

The pensioner's body washed up at Blackpool a month after he vanished but he was not identified until DNA tests were carried out this month.

"It really is a mystery as to what truly happened," Fr Joe Donnelly told the congregation.

Extensive searches had been conducted for the much loved pensioner.

Scout leaders made a guard of honour for Mr Kennedy.

fdillon@herald.ie