Mother who lost five members of her family including her sister and two sons in pier drowning tragedy helps carry their coffins to their house (Photos)

t was a heart-breaking homecoming no mother should ever endure. Hundreds of mourners bowed their heads in respect as heartbroken mother Louise James carried the coffins of her partner, two sons, mother and sister into their home after the family drowned in a tragic accident on an Irish pier.

Sean McGrotty, his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight, his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels and his sister-in-law Jodie-Lee died when their car apparently slipped on algae and plunged into Buncrana harbour in County Donegal, north-west Ireland.

Escorted by police to the entrance of the street in Derry city, the five hearses slowly edged their way in, followed by another car carrying heartbroken Ms James and her brothers.

The only sound to be heard was the purr of the hearses’ engines. Ms James and her brothers got out of their car and as she went into her house, they each opened up the back doors of the five hearses.

Family: Louise James pictured with her partner Sean McGrotty and their children Evan and Mark, who have all died in a car accident; her baby daughter Rionaghac-Ann, pictured in her arms, was the only survivor