Two men who drowned while fishing in Co Clare named as Afghan brothers based in Limerick – The Irish Times

The two men who died after falling into the sea in Co Clare while fishing on Tuesday have been named locally.

The two men were brothers named Tajuddin Safi, aged in his 30s, and Salahuddin Safi, who was in his 20s.

The men, originally from Afghanistan, had made Limerick their home for the past decade.

The brothers were described as “well-regarded members of the local Limerick community” by John Lannon, the chief executive of Doras, a Limerick based non-profit organisation supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

Lannon said: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the two young men who were so tragically killed in an accident while fishing at sea in Co Clare on Tuesday.

“We had the privilege of knowing them over many years, as they came to Ireland from Afghanistan and accessed our services for over a decade … Our staff were very fond of them.

“We were in touch with one of them just last week; he was a lovely, gentle, kind, and clever young man.”

Cllr Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, deputy mayor of Limerick City and County Council, said he was close to the men and was shocked to learn of their death. “They are a very well-respected family,” he said. Salahuddin had been married last year, he said, but his wife had yet to join him in Ireland from Afghanistan. Two other brothers also live in the State.

He said people local to the fishing spot in Co Clare were aware of the danger present there, but that many people coming from Limerick, including members of the immigrant community, were not. “Clare County Council could put more signage there to make people aware,” he said.

Local Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara said it was “a devastating tragedy”, adding that his “heart goes out to Tajuddin and Salahuddin’s family, friends and all who knew them in Limerick.”

The brothers were fishing off the rocks at Blue Pool in Pulleen Bay outside Doonbeg in Co Clare.

The Irish Coast Guard said it was notified of the incident at 2.15pm.

A search was initiated, with the Coast Guard helicopter R115 from Shannon, Kilkee Coast Guard unit, Doolin Coast Guard unit and the Aran Islands lifeboat on the scene.

“At approximately 4pm, the Coast Guard helicopter R115 located two bodies within the search area identified by MRSC Valentia, after which Aran Island lifeboat recovered them from the sea as part of the co-ordinated operation,” it said in a statement.

Sea conditions were reported to be very rough at the scene.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor in Co Clare Rita McInerney commended the work of the emergency services who recovered the bodies. She said the local community was shocked and saddened and offered her “deepest sympathies” to the families of the men who died.

McInerney said it was a “notorious spot in terms of other tragedies”, of which she said there had been a number of in the last few years. She said there was a plaque at the spot in commemoration of people who had lost their lives there.

She said she understood the men had been there before, adding “lots of Limerick people enjoy coming to west Clare”.

She said the area was notoriously dangerous and that freak waves gave it a “deceptive nature”.