John Jnr, left, pictured with his dad on a previous visit to the same bar
POLICE search teams have found another body in the Glasgow pub hit by a police helicopter on Friday night, taking the death toll to nine.
Officers are continuing the search for John McGarrigle Snr, whose family are from Letterkenny.
His son John Jnr has been holding a vigil at the site of the Clutha Bar where his dad was last seen alive.
Police have also positively identified a fifth person as Samuel McGhee, 56, from Glasgow.
Detective Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: “We can now confirm that Samuel McGhee died during the incident on Friday. Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight as they are with all those affected by this tragedy.
“Sadly I can also confirm the discovery of a further body within the site. This takes to nine the total number of people who died on Friday night.
“Our absolute priority has been to locate the bodies of people who were within the pub at the time of the incident and recover them safely. This process takes time, as formal identification procedures have to take place before we can notify relatives and publicly confirm identities.
“We are doing all we can to support the families of those who have lost loved ones. It is essential that we maintain sensitivity and dignity for the families of the deceased.”
She added: “This remains an ongoing investigation and search focused on the Clutha Vaults pub. The site is extremely challenging and the efforts of colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and investigators have been painstaking.”
Mr McGarrigle’s son says he is convinced his father, a poet and writer, died inside the bar.
He said he unsuccessfully tried to get information from the accident helpline set up for those affected.
“I said my dad is dead, probably lying underneath that helicopter,” he said.
“I could walk in there and pinpoint him myself in the rubble.”