THE search for a 73-year-old Athea man, who had been missing from his County Limerick home since January 6, was stood down this evening (Sunday) after Gardaí reported the discovery of a body.
A statement from An Garda Síochána this evening announced that, after a week of ongoing searches, John McSweeney, late of Athea, had been discovered dead.
Gardaí made no comment as to the location in which the deceased was found.
People of the West Limerick community rallied behind the search for Mr Sweeney in their hundreds across this week, with large search parties comprised of local volunteers, the Coast Guard, Civil Defence, and a number of search and rescue organisations taking to local woodlands and bogs.
One local representative, Councillor Liam Galvin, describing the people of West Limerick rallying around the missing pensioner, said he had “never seen such a show of community support and determination”.
In a statement, Gardaí thanked the public for their assistance in the mass search.
Funeral arrangements for Mr Sweeney have yet to be announced.
