Ballina in mourning after spate of Moy deaths

Ballina in mourning after spate of Moy deaths


Anna Marie Flynn

IT was a black week for Ballina and the River Moy, as three bodies were recovered from the river’s waters over a five-day period.
On Sunday last, at approximately 12.50pm, the body of missing local youth, 19-year-old David Higgins, was recovered by the Garda Sub Aqua Unit. Reports were widespread that the 19-year-old was last seen in difficulty in the river on March 13, and water and land searches were ongoing since that date.
In a tragic twist of fate, the remains of a friend of the Higgins family, Tommy Helly, who lost his life while assisting in the search effort, was recovered from the Moy five days previously on Wednesday last, while a third body; that of missing woman Teresa Loftus, was recovered on Thursday.

Ballina mourns David Higgins
THE recovery of remains of 19-year-old David Higgins brought sadness to the whole community on Sunday last, two weeks after he was reportedly last seen. Gardai confirmed that the body located and recovered at 12.50pm on Sunday last was that of Mr Higgins. Funeral arrangements had not been made at the time of publication.

Ballina shattered by tragic death
BALLINA paid its final respects to Tommy Helly yesterday (Monday). He died tragically while searching the River Moy for a family friend.
Mr Helly was participating in the search for missing local man, 19-year-old David Higgins, on Wednesday last when he lost his life. It is believed he slipped into the river during the search operation.
The 59-year-old, from Barrett Street in Ballina, was a friend of John Higgins, father of David, and had been searching the river with a team of locals at the time. He had been actively involved in the ongoing search since the disappearance of David Higgins almost two weeks previously. Mr Higgins was last seen in difficulty on the River Moy on March 13 last and since that date search efforts had been concentrated on the Moy.
Mr Helly’s body was recovered by Naval Service Divers at about 2pm on Wednesday. It is believed the divers initially thought they had recovered Mr Higgins.
The devastating news caused shock and grief in the town of Ballina and outlying areas where Tommy Helly was well-known. Town Mayor, Cllr Frances McAndrew, said: “Ballina and the wider community has been shattered by this.”
A single man, Mr Helly was born in Ballina and spent some time living in the UK before returning to his home town 15 years ago.
As a young man, he was a well -respected footballer whp played for both Ballina Stephenites GAA Club and Ballina Town soccer club.
Hundreds of people turned out to mourn the shocking loss on Sunday evening last at McGowan’s Funeral Home and once again on Monday (yesterday) for Requiem Mass at St Muredach’s Cathedral before Tommy Helly was laid in his final resting place in Leigue Cemetery.

Woman’s body recovered
THE of missing woman, Teresa Loftus, was recovered from the River Moy on Thursday last.
The remains were discovered in the river at the townland of Coolcronan, between Ballina and Foxford. Ms Loftus, who was in her late 40s, had been missing for the past three weeks.
She was a native of Lisacul, County Roscommon and was last seen on March 4. Foul play is not suspected, and her death is being treated as a tragedy.
Ms Loftus was laid to rest yesterday morning (Monday) at Lisacul Cemetery following 11.30am funeral Mass at Christ the King Church, Lisacul.