Family and friends mourn Maldives drowning victim
THERE was an outpouring of grief yesterday as family and friends remembered newlywed Andrew Roddy, who tragically drowned on his honeymoon.
It emerged that the 30-year-old Dublin man died after getting into difficulty while snorkelling in the Maldives, where he was on honeymoon with his new bride, Gill Campion.
Fr Liam Ó Cúiv, a priest in Killester, north Dublin, said his family lived in his parish and that he understood Mr Roddy was an only child.
A spokesman for the Maldives Police Service confirmed the incident occurred on Tuesday in the south Asian island.
It is understood the couple were coming to the end of their honeymoon after getting married recently in Dublin.
It is believed they were staying at the Kuredu Island Resort and Spa.
A police spokesman said they first received reports of the incident there at 11am. He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘He drowned while snorkelling near the resort.’
The spokesman also confirmed the deceased’s body had been taken to a mortuary and that they are ‘expecting his family to come here today.’
Mr Roddy, who recently turned 30, worked with his bride in the New Ireland Assurance group in Dublin city centre. He had studied in Dublin City University
It is understood that the news was broken to his devastated colleagues yesterday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed earlier this week that it was aware of Mr Roddy’s death and had been offering consular assistance to his family.
With a population of just 324,000, the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, close to Sri Lanka, and is a popular honeymoon destination which is known for its luxury resorts.
There is no Irish embassy in the Maldives, but officials from the Irish Embassy in New Delhi in India have been available for assistance.
Jane Horgan-Jones, a councillor in the deceased’s local area, described the fatal incident as a ‘terrible tragedy’.
She didn’t know Mr Roddy personally but said there was a deep sense of shock in the community.
‘My heart goes out to his wife and his family and his friends in the community and beyond. It really is just unbelievably sad and I hope that they are getting the support they need through what is certainly a very difficult time,’ she added.
‘He drowned while snorkelling’