Tributes to rescue services as body recovered

Tributes have been paid to the many local voluntary groups who participated in the search for missing Trim man Wayne Gunning whose body was recovered from the River Boyne on Saturday morning. Hundreds of volunteers from many local organisations had been involved in searches since 3rd February. Members of Meath River Rescue discovered Mr Gunning's body at Lally's Island, about a mile from Bective, on Saturday morning. Meath Civil Defence, Meath River Rescue, Leinster River Rescue, Boyne Fisherman's Rescue and Recovery Service, Garda Water Unit, the Coast Guard, the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, Trim Canoe Club and Alpha Dive Club were all involved in the searches. Meath Civil Defence Officer Michael Fitzsimons, who co-ordinated the searches, said there had been a phenomenal effort on everybody's part, and that everything was put into the search that could have been by all the groups involved. He explained the level of the river had gone down considerably during the dry spell which had aided in the recovery. Local TD Ray Butler has paid tribute to all the voluntary groups who participated in the searches for Mr Gunning and said they were "absolutely brilliant". "To see them gathering day after day to look for Wayne was very heartwarming for his family and friends and all the people who knew him", he said. Mr Gunning's funeral mass will take place in St Patrick's Church, Trim, on Wednesday at 11am, followed by burial in St Loman's Cemetery.