Body found in search for missing mum who vanished after falling into Sligo river just days before Christmas

A BODY has been found in the search for a missing mum-of-two who vanished after falling into a river just days before Christmas.

Stephanie Sweeney was last seen in Sligo's Garavogue River on December 22.

Major searches took place over the Christmas period in a bid to find the 25-year-old.

The operation was conducted by An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, Sligo Bay RNLI, the Rescue 118 Coastguard helicopter crew, River Moy Search and Rescue, Boyne River Rescue, Wexford K-9 Search and Rescue and Rockcorry Divers.

Thousands of volunteers gathered at the Village Inn car park in Sligo to carry out the searches during low tides.

And River Moy Search And Rescue has sent their condolences to her family and friends after a body was recovered in the Sligo Bay area this afternoon.

They wrote on Facebook: "We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Stephanie Sweeney in Sligo."

Family member Lauren Sweeney also took to social media to pay tribute to Stephanie.

She wrote: "I can’t believe it after 18 days you were found.

"We searched morning, noon and night for you with no stopping.

"It didn’t feel real we knew you were gone but we were hoping for some sort of miracle but now we know you're in heaven.

"My heart breaks Stephanie, I can’t believe it.

"Fly High Baby Girl, I hope you found your peace I’ll love you always."

Last week, her heartbroken boyfriend Michael Corcoran urged the public to help find Stephanie.

He told the Irish Sun: “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 under water. That was the last I seen of Stephanie.”

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

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

Michael also 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”.