Sean McGrotty, Louise James with their children Mark, Evan and baby Rioghnach-Ann
THE inquest into the Buncrana pier tragedy is to begin today, which will hear evidence from 12 witnesses on the tragic events.
Five family members from Derry drowned on March 20, 2016 when the Audi Q7 4 X 4 car they were in slid off the pier and into the water.
Those who lost their lives were Sean McGrotty, his sons Mark, 11 and eight-year-old Evan, his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and her teenage daughter Jodie-Lee Tracey.
Baby girl Rionaghac-Ann was saved when her father passed her out the window to local man Davitt Walsh who bravely tried to come to the family’s aid.
Over the next two days, an inquest in Buncrana will try to establish exactly what happened on that night.
Louise James, who lost her partner Sean and four family members has said she is hoping the two days will pass soon so she and her baby girl can get on with life.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that Louise told her priest, Father Paddy O’Kane in Ballymagroarty, that she is taking each day as it comes.
Father O’Kane told the paper: “I called with Louise a few days ago.
“She said to me, ‘I feel strong, that I’m taking one day at a time, that I simply want these two days to be over so Rioghnach and I can go on and have as normal a life as possible in the circumstances’.
“I would like to ask people to please let Louise have space and don’t intrude on her privacy at this time.”
Coroner Denis McCauley will lead the inquest hearing today, where a jury will be sworn in to hear evidence from 12 depositions.
The inquest will also examine reports by Donegal County Council into their piers and slipways, with input from Irish Water Safety Authority and the Raod Safety Authority of Ireland.