Man who dies after vehicle plunges into Newry canal is named locally

He has been named locally as Cormac Galvin.

He is understood to have been a tradesman who was in his 30s.

The incident happened around lunchtime yesterday.

“At approximately 1.55pm on Sunday, 27 November police received a report that a vehicle had entered the canal at Fathom Line in Newry," PSNI Inspector Russell Vogan said:

"The driver of the vehicle was recovered from the water and taken to hospital where he later died."

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

A PSNI spokesman added: "There are no further details at this stage.”

According to reports an eyewitness said emergency services, including four Fire and Rescue crews and a police dive team, continued their investigation at the cordoned-off scene on the Omeath Road yesterday.

SDLP councillor Gary Stokes said the van driver was a father-of-two in his 30s.

He added: "Cormac Galvin is the nephew of a friend of mine. He has two young children and it is devastating for the family.

"It is so, so sad," he added. "It is such a shock to the family."