Mike Liston: ‘He will never be replaced’

MIKE LISTON, the 47-year-old firefighter and father-of-four killed in yesterday’s horror road accident in Co Limerick, had lost a brother two years ago in another double fatality.

His 41-year-old brother, Thomas Liston, a father-of-three from Croagh, was electrocuted along with Niall Fitzpatrick, 36, from Broadford, Co Limerick. The pair had died while erecting temporary lighting in a field to assist mourners attending the funeral wake of a road accident victim, Billy Sheehan, 21, near Askeaton.

Mr Liston, meanwhile, joined the fire service 17 years ago as a retained part-time member. He lived in Foynes with his wife, Bernadette, and their children, Noelle, 23, Lyn, 19, Niall, 16 and Ann, 15.

A local woman, Margaret O’Shaughnessy who manages the Foynes flying Boat Museum, said: “If somebody wanted anything done for the community they invariably turned to Mike. I knew him well, he was involved in many groups — community games, community council, almost everything.

“He also played a huge part in the Samhlu, the street theatre company in Foynes, and helped make props. It’s the most dreadful tragedy, particularly for his family but also for the entire community. He will never be replaced.”

Another life-long friend, Marie Rohan, recalled how proud Mr Liston was of the fire service.

She recalled: “Mike and some other firefighters were invited to the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Birmingham, following 9/11 in New York. There were firefighters from New York in the parade and Mike was so proud to march there in his uniform that day.”

Chief Fire Officer for Co Limerick, Carmel Kirby, called to the family home yesterday to offer her sympathy.

Ms Kirby said: “Mike was a great colleague and a very good and committed firefighter. We are all devastated at what happened to him and Garda Kelleher.”

She said counselling will be offered to the other 11 firefighters from Foynes and Rathkeale who were at the scene.

A book of condolence will also be opened today at Foynes fire station and the headquarters of Limerick Co Council.

Fr John Mockler, the local curate in Foynes, performed the Last Rites at the scene.

“It was an awful blow,” he said. “Mike was a great parishioner and had a great community spirit.”