Northern Ireland

Buncrana tragedy: Louise James sees brother Joshua Daniels score for Derry City

Baby Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty with mum Louise James at a Derry City match against Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Baby Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty with mum Louise James at a Derry City match against Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

LOUISE James, who lost five family members in the Buncrana pier tragedy, proudly looked on with baby Rioghnach-Ann as her brother Joshua Daniels scored in Derry City's match on Sunday.

Rioghnach-Ann, who was attending her first Derry City match, saw her godfather score against Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell.

Daniels (20) also scored on Tuesday to help book his side a place in the third round of the FAI Cup.

Ms James's partner Sean McGrotty (49) was killed along with the couple's sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), Ms James's mother Ruth Daniels (57) and her sister Jodie-Lee Daniels (14), when their car slid off a pier into Lough Swilly in March.

Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty, then aged four months, was only rescued when Donegal man Davitt Walsh (29) swam from the pier to the sinking car.

Following the tragedy, a fund was established to help Ms James and her family cope with the trauma.

And at the time of the tragedy, Derry City Football Club expressed its "shock and sadness" and said it would support Daniels.