The brother of a missing man found dead on Christmas Eve has told of his heartbreak.
Gardai had appealed for help earlier this month in finding 34-year-old Bryan Keehan, who was last seen in the Denmark Street area of Limerick city on Friday, November 29.
However, his body was located on Christmas Eve, December 24.
Bryan's brother Terence Keehan shared a post on Facebook yesterday, saying he was "feeling broken", outlining what happened and paying tribute to his sibling.
He wrote: "On Christmas Eve night around 11pm, I got that dreaded knock at the door, part of me was preparing for it being honest.
"In walked two gardai, who told me that the coast guard found a body in the river and they believe it's my brother.
"So I then had the first most difficult thing I had to do yet, identify my brother's body, alone.
"So the gardai drove me down to Arthurs Quay Park where they discovered the body nearby in the river.
"It was a freezing cold night, just an hour to Christmas Day and a fog was setting in with an eerie, stillness in the air.
"As we made our way over, I could see a white bag on the ground. They pulled back the white cover and there he lay, my brother Bryan.
"Absolutely broke me, but there's just one little thing that would've helped me afterwards while upset and that's just a simple hug from someone there, a Garda, search and rescue crew... nobody did.
"Another thing that hurt was, why did I have to identify him on a cold ground in a bag and not a morgue, which would've been a bit more dignified at least?
"The second most difficult thing I had to do today was break the news to my already heartbroken mother - she took it bad.
"Well you are now at peace Bryan. I'll miss the laughs and the sneer we always had.
"I'll miss going to gigs with you. Will also miss the walks we used (to) do about town.
"Most of all I'll miss you, my brother, my best friend who was always there for me.
"Sleep easy Bryan, give dad a hug for us. Watch over mam, our brother Matthew (in Japan) and of course myself. Give us the strength we'll need to get through this.
"Until we meet again Bryan - may you rest in peace."
