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A memorial to the Buncrana victims. Eamonn Farrell
Davitt Walsh

"Rioghnach-Ann is a beautiful baby" - Buncrana hero shares emotional post

Davitt Walsh has been hailed a hero for jumping into the water.

DAVITT WALSH, THE man who saved a four-month-old baby in the Buncrana tragedy, has shared an emotional Facebook post.

Walsh has been hailed a hero for jumping into the water after the McGrotty family’s vehicle slipped off the pier.

He managed to carry four-month-old Rioghnach-Ann to safety as Sean McGrotty, his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and her daughter Jodie Lee-Daniels (14) tragically died.

Today on Facebook, he said that he had taken inspiration from Louise James, whose family died in the tragedy.

In the post, shared over 850 times, he thanked those who had reached out to him.

While reflecting today on all that has happened, I would like to say that I am overwhelmed by all the messages and posts that I have received. Its impossible for me to reply to everyone individually but I have read them all. It’s your kindness and sincerity that has given me great strength and enabled me to cope over these last days.

“So I would like to thank you all so much for this! Louise has been an inspiration to me and a great comfort, she is an exceptional woman.

“Rioghnach-Ann is a beautiful baby and I look forward to being a part of her life and to see her growing up. Sean, Mark, Evan, Ruth and Jodie-Lee are now together in heaven. God Bless R.I.P”

An investigation into the tragedy is ongoing.

Read: Irish Mail on Sunday apologises over “exclusive” interview with wife and mother of Buncrana victims

Read: ‘Save my baby’: Buncrana father went back into car to try to rescue his family

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