Northern Ireland

Human leg found washed ashore on scenic Donegal beach

Gardaí in Co Donegal have sealed off a popular Gweedore beach after part of a human leg was found washed ashore.
Gardaí in Co Donegal have sealed off a popular Gweedore beach after part of a human leg was found washed ashore. Gardaí in Co Donegal have sealed off a popular Gweedore beach after part of a human leg was found washed ashore.

AN investigation has been launched after part of a human leg – believed to be that of a woman – was found washed up on a scenic beach in west Donegal.

Gardaí sealed off Magheragallon beach in Gweedore yesterday morning after the discovery by a woman out walking. The beach, at Derrybeg, is hugely popular with summer visitors to the area.

Officers carried out a detailed search of the area yesterday while an Irish coastguard helicopter spent more than an hour searching coastal waters.

Sinn Féin councillor John Shéamus O Fearraigh said people were shocked at the discovery.

“Nobody knows much about this; it’s really mysterious. There are no reports of anyone going missing around here and as far as we know there’ve been no reports of anyone falling from a ship.

“It’s really mind-boggling that a body part should be washed up on such a scenic beach as Magheragallon with no-one having a clue where it came from. We’ll have to wait to see what the Gardaí can find out but local people are very keen to find out what happened as soon as possible,” he said.