The company which employed the Irishman who drowned after a tourist boat sank off the coast of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf have said they are saddened and shocked by the tragedy.
Mercury Engineering in Dublin say Derek Cunningham, who worked with them on a major project in Bahrain, died aboard the boat with his Thai wife Orathai.
The couple had two children aged 11 and seven.
The 52-year-old had worked with the firm as a Manager for more than a year and his 20-year-old son, from a previous marriage, was due to travel to take up employment in Bahrain on the same building project today.
Mr Cunningham and his wife were among the 57 people who drowned after the boat capsized less than 1.5km off the coast.
Earlier, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, expressed his sympathy with the family. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the Cunningham family and an official from the Irish Embassy in Saudi Arabia is en route to Bahrain to liaise with authorities.
It is understood family members will travel to Bahrain tomorrow to make arrangements.
Thirteen British people and 18 Indians also died when the boat capsized.
South Africans, Egyptians and Filipinos are also known to have been among the 150 passengers on board the vessel at the time.
Officials say at least 63 people have been rescued.
The cause of the accident is not yet known but it has been reported that the boat was overcrowded when it left the harbour.
