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'When I heard that they were gone... what can you say - I still can't believe it'

His father and girlfriend died in the tragedy.

Updated 19.45

THE MOTHER OF missing man Barry Davis Ryan has spoken out about the heartache suffered over his disappearance.

The incident saw Barry’s father, also Barry Ryan, and his girlfriend Niamh O’Connor drown.

Their bodies have been recovered while the body of the younger Barry Ryan is still missing.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One news this evening, Ann Davis described coping with the incident.

“The loss is huge. I’ve lost two of the loved ones. Barry, the dad was a very spiritual, very intelligent man, and my son was a lovely boy. Very intelligent as well,” she said.

When I heard that two were gone and Barry was missing. What can you say. I still can’t believe it. It’s hard to come to terms with it.

On the work being carried out by divers in the search, she said, “First of all I would like to thank everyone.”

Everyone that it helping. I mean it is just amazing. Just I can’t think people enough.

Divers needed

As the search enters its second week experienced people are being asked to come forward to assist the rescue teams.

Ryan (21) disappeared on Tuesday of last week alongside his girlfriend Niamh O’Connor and father Barry Ryan (51).

It is believed that two of the trio were swept out to sea while rock fishing. The 12-year-old daughter of Barry Ryan raised the alarm.

While the bodies of Niamh O’Connor and Barry Ryan have been recovered, the body of Barry Davis Ryan is still missing.

Search and rescue

John Kearney of West Cork Underwater Search and Rescue told Morning Ireland today that they are looking for experienced search-and-rescue divers who have been diving recently.

They are looking for these divers to help on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Kearney said the “terrain itself is difficult” and stretches from six to 23 metres down. They need to do a “very, very detailed search”, said Kearney.

We have done lots and lots of searches but because the weather has turned bad for days we have to go over those areas again in case there has been movement on the sea bed.

Local fishermen have been helping by laying groundlines along the seabed so that divers have a route to follow.

It “has to be a very detailed slow search”, said Kearney.

Additional reporting by Michael Sheils Mcnamee 

First published 08.21am 

Read: Search resumes for missing man whose dad and girlfriend drowned in Cork>

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