Dutch families commemorate victims of plane crash

THE families of four Dutch people killed in a plane crash in the Knockmealdown Mountains 20 years ago made the sad journey back to The Vee yesterday to attend a memorial Mass.

The commemoration was organised by a committee led by Superintendent Tom O’Grady of Dungarvan Garda Station, who was sergeant in Lismore Garda Station at the time of the tragedy. Among those in attendance were the Dutch Charge d’Affaire, Bert Vander Linger, as well as relatives of the deceased who travelled from Eindhoven.

Mayor of Lismore Peter Ahearne, the Mayor of Dungarvan, Damien Geoghegan, and Mayor of Co Waterford, Billy Kyne, were also in attendance, as well as representatives from the Civil Defence and the Garda Síochána. Also there were Lt Colonel Andy McIntyre and Sgt John Greene of the Air Corps, former assistant garda commisioner Tom Sloyan, Army Commandant Benny McEvoy of Clonmel, HSE national major emergency coordinator Gerry O’Dwyer and representatives of South East Mountain Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service.