09/09/2009

Body Of Irishman Found In Brisbane River

A body, believed to be that of an Irishman who went missing in Australia at the weekend, has been recovered in the Brisbane river.

24-year-old Shane O'Halloran went missing on Saturday night after falling overboard a cruise ship.

Police located the body not far from where he originally went missing.

It has been reported by Brisbane media that Mr O'Halloran had been perched precariously on a high ledge on the boat moments before

falling overboard into the river.

A 26-year-old woman, identified as Sinead O'Neill, also fell from the craft but was recovered soon after. Mr O'Halloran, however, failed to resurface at the time.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that a formal identification still has to take place.

The Brisbane party cruise operator from whose boat missing Irishman Shane O'Halloran fell has since called for increased scrutiny of safety standards in the industry as Maritime Safety in Queensland is current operated under a self-regulatory system.

The news comes only a day after it emerged that the badly beaten body of an Irish holiday maker had been discovered in the popular tourist destination of Portugal.

Paul Houston, 51, and president of Greencastle Golf Club, was found in the fishing village of Alvor in the Algarve at 5am on Sunday.

Police in Alvor are investigating the possibility he was set upon by two men as he made his way back to the accommodation he was sharing with his wife Celine, and another couple. It is understood the four were socialising together earlier in the evening.

Mr Houston was reported missing by his wife and friends when he failed to return to their accommodation.

Mr Houston’s body was found on a riverside walkway in Alvor and was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine at Portimao District Hospital for autopsy.

(DW/GK)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 August 2014
Body Confirmed As Missing Co Kilkenny Man
Gardaí have found the body of a man that was reported missing two weeks ago. The body of Billy Dooley, of Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, was found in a public toilet in the town. It is understood that gardaí had been searching for Mr Dooley for a fortnight. They say that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
19 December 2011
Call For Assistance To Families On Missing
Ireland's law reform body has called for the plan to see the families of missing people to receive financial help with paying their bills. The Law Reform Commission (LRC) on Monday published its Consultation Paper on Civil Law Aspects of Missing Persons making 18 detailed provisional recommendations for reform of the law.
25 April 2014
Body Found In Co Donegal
Gardai have launched an investigation after a body was discovered in Bundoran, Co Donegal, this morning (25 April). The body, believed to be a man aged in his 60's or 70's, was found near the shore in the West End of the town. It is believed the body remains at the scene.
14 June 2016
Two Missing People Found 'Safe And Well'
Missing 17-year-old Yasmin O'Keeffe has been found "safe and well", garda have reported. Garda had issued an appeal for the teenager who had been missing since Tuesday, 07 June in Navan. No further information has been released but garda have thanked the public for their help.
28 August 2015
Missing Teenager Found 'Safe And Well'
Missing 17-year-old Keeley Murphy has been found "safe and well", garda have reported. Garda had issued an appeal for information on the whereabouts of the teenager, who had been missing since 21 August. Garda have thanked the public for their help and said that no further action is needed.