Body of man missing almost nine weeks recovered from River Foyle

THE family of Londonderry man Michael McGinley have confirmed that the body found in the River Foyle yesterday morning was his.

The 27-year-old, from the Gobnascale area of the city, had been missing for almost nine weeks.

His body was recovered from the water shortly after 9.30am, near the Foyle Bridge.

Mr McGinley was reported missing on Sunday, January 21, after failing to return to his home.

Before vanishing, he had been grieving the loss of his mother and father.

Following his disappearance, his family transformed their childhood home on the Strabane Old Road into a meeting place for volunteers who conducted searches alongside Foyle Search and Rescue and search crews from throughout Ireland.

Mr McGinley’s sisters, Laura and Danielle, and his brother, Samuel, also set up a Help Bring Michael Home Facebook page to co-ordinate the search operations and appeal for help to find him.

Yesterday, they posted an emotional message of thanks to everyone who assisted in bringing their brother back home.

“Today we found Michael after eight weeks and five days,” they wrote. “We don’t know how to feel. We are numb.

“We are so thankful to have him back so he can be laid to his final resting place with his beloved Mammy and Daddy.

“We would like to say a special thank you to everyone who helped during the search for our brother Michael.

“These past eight weeks and five days have been awfully hard for us, losing our brother.

“We are forever grateful for the help and support that we have received during this time.”

Friends took to the Help Bring Michael Home page to pay tribute to Mr McGinley and his heartbroken family.

“Bittersweet, but so glad Michael is coming home,” wrote one. “God bless you all. Be very proud of yourselves. You never gave up.”

Another friend said: “God bless you all. Happy he is home at last. Up in heaven with his Mammy and Daddy.”

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that the body of a man had been recovered.

They also said that a formal identification process and post-mortem examination had yet to take place.

Found: Michael McGinley

❝ We are so thankful to have him back so he can be laid to rest with his beloved mum and dad