Gardaí say they are treating the deaths of a father and daughter, whose bodies were recovered from the sea near their home in west Cork, as a tragic incident'.

They have been named as Martin McCarthy, 50, of Foilnamuck, Ballydehob, and his three-year-old daughter Clarissa.

Mr McCarthy's wife and Clarissa's mother, Rebecca, is being comforted by relatives.

She raised the alarm when she discovered they were missing from their home just before midnight.

Their bodies were found on the beach near Schull following an extensive search.

Gardaí initially searched farmland, but the search was later extended to Audley Cove and Audley Bay.

The little girl's body was recovered from shallow water at Audley Cove at around 1.50am.

Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. Mr McCarthy's body was recovered from shallow water nearby shortly afterwards.

Their bodies were removed to Cork University Hospital where post mortem examinations were carried out.