Search for boy missing after fall from Cliffs of Moher stood down as body recovered from sea

The search for a young boy who fell from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare earlier this week has been stood down following the recovery of a body from the sea.

A major land, sea and air operation was launched on Tuesday after the boy, believed to be 12, became separated from his family.

The Irish Coast Guard, which had been co-ordinating the search operation, has confirmed that a fishing vessel reported the sighting of a body at sea between Doolin and the Aran Islands this Sunday morning.

"Volunteers from the Doolin Coast Guard Unit boat team assisted by the Aran Islands RNLI located and recovered the body, which was subsequently transferred to An Garda Siochána. The search around the Cliffs of Moher and surrounding sea areas has now been suspended," said a spokesperson.

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The Irish Coast Guard has the volunteer Coast Guard Units from Doolin, Cleggan, Inisheer, Costelloe Bay, Killaloe, Aran Islands lifeboat, Coast Guard helicopter R115 and members of the Civil Defence who participated in the search efforts for the past five days.

In a statement, a garda spokesperson said: "Following the recovery of a body this morning by Coast Guard, a coastal search operation for a young boy missing from the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare since Tuesday afternoon, has been stood down."

Arrangements are now being made to conduct a post-mortem examination and a file will be prepared for the local Coroner.