Boyfriend appeals to public to help search for missing partner who fell into Sligo river just days before Christmas

A HEARTBROKEN boyfriend is appealing to the public to help find his partner who fell into a river three days before Christmas.

Michael Corcoran has told how mum-of-two Stephanie Sweeney was last seen in Sligo's Garavogue River on December 22.

Michael told The Irish Sun: “My girlfriend Stephanie Sweeney - mother of two boys, three and five - fell into the Garavogue in Sligo on the 22nd of December 2023 and still hasn't been found.”

The Sligo Bay RNLI, Rescue 118 Coastguard helicopter and thousands of volunteers have spent days searching for the 25-year-old.

He said: “I was standing on the bridge, talking to one of the lads and waiting on a taxi.

“And she was standing at the shop talking to one of the girls.

"Then she was in the water. One of the girls screamed 'Stephanie’s in the water'.”

Michael ran down the bridge looking for a life boat.

He said: “I ran across the bridge and within two, three seconds Stephanie was underwater. That was the last I seen of Stephanie.”

After nearly two weeks missing, he fears that she has left Sligo and travelled along the coast.

Thousands of friends, families and volunteers have spent hours searching waters and coastlines in a bid to find Stephanie.

Over the festive period, volunteers gathered at the Village Inn car park to carry out searches during low tides.

Michael has arranged numerous divers from across the country to look for Stephanie.

Rescuers have been searching along the quays and the channel at Sligo Bay and Michael is urging the public to widen the search.

He said: “There’s people there now in Donegal looking and Ballina, Westport.

“We’re just trying to get it out more to people to check all the coastlines.

“We’re not sure she’s in Sligo because it’s 14 days [missing] tonight.”

The Sligo man told how Stephanie was a very positive person.

He said: “She was amazing, absolutely. She’s full of energy.”

Michael said Stephanie was a “fantastic mother to her two boys”.

And told how she was a “spur of the moment person” who was “really loved”.

Michael urged they won’t stop until Stephanie is found and thanked all who have given up their time to search for her.

He added: “I really, really appreciate everyone who helps.”