Police crash: Flowers and tributes from a community numb with grief
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Flowers and tributes from a community numb with griefLittle pink baby shoes with the words 'Daddy's Girl' are among the many poignant tributes to the four policemen who lost their lives in the terrible crash tragedy near Warrenpoint.
More pictures
Print
Email
The strong winter sun fell across the south Down coast yesterday — but it did little to bring light into a community thrown into the darkness of grief.
After news broke on Sunday of the deaths of PSNI officers Kenny Irvine (30), Kevin Gorman (24) Declan Greene and James Magee (27) the shock has rippled throughout their home towns in the Mourne area and across the province.
“Great lads”, “bright futures” and a “tragic waste” were the words passing the lips of people in Kilkeel and Warrenpoint last night. Bundles of flowers with emotional goodbyes and prayers from their loved ones now mark the spot where just 24 hours earlier they had lost their lives in the horrifying accident.
The wreckage of the burnt out vehicle has since been removed but in the cold light of day charred marks on the road are a reminder of the terrible tragedy.
The four men died after responding to a fellow officer needing help, but crashed along the main Warrenpoint to Rostrevor Road with their car bursting into flames at around 4am.
In the eyes of their families and communites they died as heroes. Loved ones of the victims were yesterday too upset to speak publicly of their loss, but made the emotional trip to the accident scene on Monday morning. There they lay tributes to the men who were their sons, grandsons, nephews and friends.
A child's football shirt is among the flowers which have transformed the spot into a memorial. Across it, in black letters it simply reads: ‘My daddy, My hero'.
Pink baby shoes with the words, ‘Daddy's girl' also rest amongst the flowers and tributes. One poignant message says: ‘To Keni, loving you always, Andrea and baby Callum’. Another simply reads: ‘Our dear son, love Mum and Dad'.
Cars and lorries continued to drive past the blackspot but with many drivers slowing down to glimpse at the flowers.
And throughout the day mourners called to the spot to pay their respects in what was a huge loss of life.
One man stood with two children for a number of minutes just shaking his head in disbelief at what had occurred.
A colleague of the four victims arrived at the scene, quietly bowing his head and wiping away tears from his eyes.
He said fellow officers and the community have been left “completely stunned” by the horrendous crash. “I worked closely with the two part time officers on projects,” he said.
“It is such a big loss, we are all just completely stunned. It is so hard to believe this has happened. They were great guys.”
However the tragedy has also touched members of the public who did not know the men.
Morris Collins (67) who lost two children in a car accident in 2003 said he felt compelled to offer his condolences to the victims and their loved ones.
“My deepest sympathies go to all the victims families and friends. It is a terrible thing, just terrible.”
UUP MLA for South Down John McCallister said the deaths have had a huge impact on a small area.
“My heartfelt sympathies go out to all the families involved. There is a sense of real shock right across South Down. It is a really close community and to have four victims from such a small area has a huge impact on practically everyone.”
He added: “Everybody will know someone in the family who have been touched by this tragedy. It will take a long time for people to come to terms with something of this scale — but I don't think it is something that you ever get over. These were all young men with bright futures and now that has been taken away by this terrible accident.”
One woman who lived in the apartments next to the crash scene said after hearing the horrifying crash her husband tried in vain to help the officers.
“He heard everything,” she said.
“It was just like a loud bang. He went out and there was a number of people there trying to help, but there was nothing anyone could do. They all tried their best, it was too late, just too late. It is so tragic. I am glad in a way I didn't see what happened. It was just horrendous.”
Post a comment
Limit: 500 characters
View all comments that have been posted about this article
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by BelfastTelegraph.co.uk's Terms of Use.
Posts submitted in UPPERCASE letters will be rejected.
Comments
58 Comments
RIP James, Im never going to forget you xx
Posted by Miriam | 29.11.08, 19:49 GMT
As a past member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and a current 33 year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police (Canada) my family and I offer our deepest sympathies to these fine officers and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Responding to help a fellow officer in need and subsequently paying the ultimate terrible sacrifice is indeed honourable and brave but unfortunately such a very sad waste of life.
Posted by Les | 28.11.08, 00:53 GMT
My deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the four men who died tragically. I pray for you all and I believe that you will meet them again. St Anthony help them find peace.
Posted by Shamus | 27.11.08, 23:53 GMT
i worked with declan and knew kenny, kennys family and also his wifes family since i was no aged... they were two lovely fellas.. bt away to a beta place now...
lot of love keni and declan xxxxxx
Posted by April | 27.11.08, 21:07 GMT
I won't pretend to feel your pain, but i'm certainly sharing it. Be strong for each other. You're in my prayers. God bless!
Posted by Gerry | 27.11.08, 19:12 GMT
Very tragic news for the family, friends and colleagues of the four young officers.
Words can't adequately express the sorrow I feel.
God bless.
Posted by Niki Blair | 27.11.08, 16:09 GMT
As a member of law enforcement the death of a fellow officer is something you pray you will never have to experience. I can't imagine losing 4 at the same time. My deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of these officers, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Michaela Smith
Rutherford County Sheriff's Dept
Tennessee, U.S.A
Posted by Michaela | 27.11.08, 13:01 GMT
I left Belfast in 1955 at the age of 12 and am at the present time a retired public safety officer in California. My thoughts and prayers go out to the familys, friends and co-workers of the officers who were killed in the tragic accident.
William S. Lynn
Concord, California.
Posted by William (Bill) Lynn | 26.11.08, 23:26 GMT
Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy. God bless x
Posted by Laura | 26.11.08, 22:24 GMT
Our police service has come a long way and I hope that the public will understand how part time officers (who generally also have a day job) give up their free time to serve the community- not to take away from the committment and bravery that all 4 gave to their job and to the community, paying the ultimate price.
Posted by Maire | 26.11.08, 22:04 GMT
Deepest sympathies to all the families.May they be comforted at this sad time. May their souls Rest in Peace.
Posted by kelly | 26.11.08, 21:44 GMT
Deepest sympathy to the families and relatives of the four policemen....what a waste of life and what tragedy this waste leaves behind.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families.
Posted by s gilmartin | 26.11.08, 20:58 GMT
god bless you all and your families
Posted by eileen | 26.11.08, 20:43 GMT
my deepest sympathy to all the familys Pauline from lisburn
Posted by pauline mckeown | 26.11.08, 20:37 GMT
My sincere deepest sympathy to the Families, Friends and Colleagues of the 4 young Officers killed in this tragic accident.
Rest In Peace.
Posted by David | 26.11.08, 19:54 GMT
i knew Declan Greene's son very well i met him last summer in the caravan park in kilkeal me and Darrin became good friends i never expectid this to happen him r his family my greatist wishis go out to the Greene family and the other 3 PSNI officers that also died in this accedint =( R.I.P x x x x x x x x
Posted by danielle murphy, warrenpoint | 26.11.08, 19:24 GMT
deepest sympathies to the families and friends.
Posted by karen | 26.11.08, 18:29 GMT
Honest, hard-working policemen should always be held in the highest regard in any right-minded society. It is their dedication to keeping people safe and putting themselves at risk that make them heroes.
These men should be honored by ALL segments of NI society, they equally deserve nothing less.
I hope their families have the utmost support from their community during this unfairly difficult time.
Posted by Scott Richards | 26.11.08, 17:17 GMT
Deepest sympathies to all the families involved. As an ex- security force member it brings back so many dark memories of the past. God bless to you all. From all ex-N Ireland SF here in Iraq. God Bless.
Posted by Peter T | 26.11.08, 16:21 GMT
deepest sympathy to all of the families, colleagues and close friends of these brave men.
R.I.P
Pawel from Poland
Posted by pawel | 26.11.08, 12:14 GMT
58 Comments