Efforts to bring back the body of a young man discovered in the River Lee in Cork city over the Christmas period have received significant support financially.
Shea McCabe, a resident of Co. Tyrone, tragically fell into the Lee near the Brian Boru Bridge on the early morning of Thursday, December 18, due to what his family described as an unexpected incident.
In the subsequent days, an extensive nine-day collaborative search operation was launched along the river, Lough Mahon, and wider Cork Harbour regions. The search effort involved multiple organizations including the Gardaí, Coast Guard, Cork City firefighters, National Ambulance Service, Cork City Missing Person Search and Recovery (CCMPSR), Mallow Search and Rescue (MSAR), Irish Search Dogs, and teams from the Blackwater and Cork Sub Aqua clubs.
Even on Christmas morning, dedicated volunteers continued the search to bring closure to Shea’s family. Eventually, on the afternoon of Friday, December 26, the body of the young father was located using advanced sonar technology by the MSAR team and recovered.
This marked another tragic loss for the McCabe family, who had previously experienced the passing of Shea’s brother Jason in October 2023, followed by their mother just seven months later in May 2024, as reported by Cork Beo.
To facilitate the repatriation of Shea’s body to Pomeroy, cover funeral expenses, and provide for his three-year-old son, Cahan, the family initiated a GoFundMe page. Additionally, they expressed a desire to make a donation to the Cork search and rescue teams in appreciation of their dedicated efforts.
The appeal quickly garnered close to £9,000 (€10,300) in just three days, showcasing the community’s support for the McCabe family during this challenging time.
In a heartfelt message on the GoFundMe page, Shea’s sister Stacey expressed the family’s deep sorrow over the recent events and extended gratitude to all involved in the recovery efforts.
The family’s plea for assistance emphasized that every contribution, irrespective of size, would have a significant impact as they navigate this period of grief.
Acknowledging Shea’s memory, the staff at the Miners’ Rest pub near Pomeroy in Coalisland expressed their appreciation for the generous contributions received and assured the family of their unwavering support.
As part of their ongoing fundraising activities, the pub announced plans to host another raffle on New Year’s Eve to continue supporting the cause.
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