Divers recover the body of missing Athboy man

Police searching for Athboy student Ross O'Hanlon who has been missing in Vienna for almost a week have recovered his body.

Austrian publication De Standard reported that the body of the Dundalk IT student was taken from the canal at 2.30pm today by divers searching in the Freda Meissner Blue Promenade area.

Ross was last seen at 2am last Friday morning after leaving the nearby Flex nightclub with two of his friends. His father Paul, brother Craig, girlfriend Kelly and her father Graham had all travelled to Vienna and a number of Ross' friends also travelled to help in the searches.
A television appeal had also been aired in Austria in an effort to trace Ross.

Speaking to Independent.ie, his heartbroken older brother Craig thanked those who assisted in the search and said Ross will get the send-off he deserves when they bring him home.

“We want to thank everyone back home, the police in Vienna, the people of Vienna, the Irish community in Vienna and the Ambassador in Vienna,” he said.

“We’re all still here for Ross and we’re gonna bring him home and give him the send-off he deserves.

“He was incredibly loved by everyone as you can see by the support from all his friends, those who came over to help search, his family and his girlfriend.

“We all love him so much and we’re glad that we have found him and we can bring him home. We all love you so much Ross and there’s no need to be afraid anymore,” he added.

Ross had celebrated his 21st birthday on 9th January. Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.