A body found off the coast of Donegal this morning has been identified as a missing soldier.
Gavin 'Care Bear' Carey - an Army Corporal from Mullingar - had been missing since Tuesday evening.
He got into difficulty while out swimming with other soldiers off Tullan Strand, near Bundoran.
He was in the area to take part in training at Finner Camp in Ballyshannon.
Two other members of the Defence Forces members who were swimming at the beach were rescued.
The massive search operation involved dozens of members of the Defence Forces, the army diving team, members of the Coast Guard, RNLI, Donegal Mountain Rescue and a rescue helicopter.
The body was recovered during the sixth day of the search.
The operation has now been stood down.
The Coast Guard has offered its sympathies to the Carey family and the Defence Forces.
Spokesperson Eugene Clonan said Gavin was "based in Athlone, so it's very difficult for them. We've had some of the troops from Athlone down here".
