The body of a young father from Northern Ireland has been recovered from the River Lee in Cork, bringing a tragic end to a nine-day search that spanned the Christmas period.
A Freak Accident and a Desperate Search
Shea McCabe, originally from Pomeroy in County Tyrone, entered the water near the Brian Boru Bridge in the early hours of Thursday, December 18. His family have described the incident as a "freak accident".
What followed was an extensive search operation involving multiple agencies and volunteer groups. The effort covered the River Lee, Lough Mahon, and Cork Harbour areas. Teams from the Gardaí, the Coast Guard, Cork City Fire Brigade, and the National Ambulance Service were involved.
They were joined by dedicated volunteer organisations, including Cork City Missing Person Search and Recovery (CCMPSR), Mallow Search and Rescue (MSAR), Irish Search Dogs, and divers from the Blackwater and Cork Sub Aqua clubs. Remarkably, some volunteers even gave up their Christmas morning to continue looking for Shea.
Body Located on Boxing Day
The search concluded on the afternoon of Friday, December 26 – Boxing Day. Shea McCabe's body was finally located using advanced side-scan sonar equipment operated by the MSAR team and was subsequently recovered.
This discovery delivered another devastating blow to the McCabe family, who have endured immense loss in recent years. Shea's brother, Jason, passed away in October 2023, and their mother died just seven months later in May 2024.
Community Rallies to Bring Shea Home
In the wake of the tragedy, Shea's family launched a GoFundMe campaign with several aims: to cover the costs of repatriating his body to Pomeroy, to pay for funeral expenses, to provide for his three-year-old son, Cahan, and to make a donation to the Cork-based volunteer search teams.
The public response was swift and generous. The appeal raised nearly £9,000 (approximately €10,300) in just three days, demonstrating widespread support for the grieving family.
On the fundraising page, Shea's sister Stacey expressed the family's heartbreak and gratitude. "We are heartbroken to share that our beloved Shea McCabe has sadly passed away," she wrote. "A freak accident turned into our worst nightmare... We are deeply grateful to every person involved in bringing him back to us."
The staff at The Miners' Rest pub in Coalisland, near Pomeroy, paid a heartfelt tribute to Shea, thanking donors and vowing support for his family. "To Shéa - we love you. Thank you for every laugh, every story, and every memory... There'll always be a forever one in the keg for you," they wrote. The pub also announced plans for a further fundraising raffle on New Year's Eve.
