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Three victims of police crash fireball to be laid to rest today
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
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Three Co Down communities will be united in grief today for the funerals of three of the four young policemen killed in the weekend’s road tragedy.
The four officers who died in Sunday’s accident were, from left, James Magee,
Kevin Gorman, Declan Greene and Kenny Irvine. The funerals of Constables
Magee, Gorman and Irvine will take place today
Kevin Gorman, Declan Greene, Kenny Irvine and James Magee died in the early hours of Sunday when their patrol vehicle crashed into a wall between Warrenpoint and Rostrevor.
Mr Magee (27) will be buried following a service in Dromore Cathedral this morning. He joined the PSNI in 2005 and was originally from Dromore but lived in Newcastle.
A funeral Mass will be held for Mr Gorman (24) in the village of Drumaness at noon. He joined the PSNI in August 2007, and was expecting his second child with his partner.
The funeral of Mr Irvine (30), a part-time constable who was married with a young son, will be held this afternoon at Kilkeel Presbyterian Church on what should have been his fourth wedding anniversary.
The funeral of father-of-four Declan Greene (39) will take place in Massforth tomorrow.
Yesterday the PSNI renewed its appeal for information into the incident.
Inspector Ian Kennedy said anyone who had been at the scene and not yet
spoken to police was asked to make contact.
Hundreds expected
By Victoria O’Hara
Hundreds of mourners are today preparing to attend the funerals of three of
the police officers who lost their lives in the tragic car crash in south
Down.
Four men, Declan Greene, Kenny Irvine, Kevin Gorman and James Magee — all from
the wider Mourne area — died on Sunday near Warrenpoint.
They died when their patrol vehicle lost control and crashed into a wall on a
stretch of road between the harbour towns of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor.
They were on their way to help colleagues dealing with a crowd in Rostrevor
when they died.
The funerals of Mr Gorman (24), Mr Magee (27) and Mr Irvine (30) will be held
today.
Ahead of the services the PSNI yesterday issued the first photographs of the
men.
Mr Magee will be laid to rest following a service in Dromore Cathedral at
11am.
He joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2005 and was originally
from Dromore but lived in Newcastle.
He is survived by his mother and father Freda and Bawn and his two sisters
Sarah and Rachel.
Mr Gorman’s funeral Mass will be held at the Chapel of Christ the King in the
village of Drumaness at noon.
He was originally from the village but lived in Ballynahinch with his partner
Debbie and their four-month-old daughter Shannyn. Debbie is expecting their
second child.
At 1.30pm mourners are set to arrive in the fishing village of Kilkeel for the
funeral of Mr Irvine, who was a part-time constable.
Known as Kenny, the married father of one joined the PSNI in 2006 and lived
and worked in Kilkeel.
His widow Andrea — who recently gave birth to a baby boy — will bury her
husband on what should have been their fourth wedding anniversary.
Declan Greene's funeral will take place in Massforth tomorrow.
The 39-year-old married man lost three members of his family in the
Tullymurray Lass fishing tragedy off the Co Down coast six years ago.
A part-time constable, he joined the service in June 2006.
He is survived by his wife Roisin, three sons Rory (19), Darren (16) and
Cormac (five) and their three-year-old daughter Sophie.
All four officers were based at Kilkeel police station in the Newry and Mourne
District. Police yesterday issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to the crash.
Senior investigating officer Inspector Ian Kennedy said they had already
spoken to a number of people who tried unsuccessfully to rescue the young
policemen from their blazing 4x4.
However, he said anyone who had been at the scene and not yet spoken to
police, or anyone who may have seen the liveried Shogun was asked to make
contact.
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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