Tributes to heroic firemen in tragic blaze

SMALL whiffs of smoke still seeped out of the gutted blackened factory at dusk yesterday.

Most emergency services and reporters were gone.

Bouquets of flowers sat up against the factory door, the only colour left at the scene which hours earlier had claimed the lives of two men.

Brian Murray, 46, from Old Fassaroe Road and Mark O’Shaughnessy, 26, from Sidmonton Road had received calls on their beepers to join colleagues when the blaze began at the old woodwork shop at 10.30am.

Residents claimed the derelict complex had become a dumping ground in the last year.

By 11.30am yesterday morning, its contents had engulfed the building in flames, collapsed its roof and two firemen had died trying to tackle the blaze.

Both gardaí and the fire service confirmed an investigation was under way into whether earlier welding work that day on the factory’s door had somehow sparked off the fire.

Mr Murray worked for nine-and-a-half years and Mr O’Shaughnessy worked for two-and-a-half years as “retained” or part-time firefighters.

A father of 15 and grandfather of seven, Mr Murray joined as a part-time firefighter in 1998.

Chief Fire Officer James Dunphy said yesterday it remained unknown how the blaze could have resulted in their deaths.

The Health and Safety Authority was also carrying out their own inquiry.

A technical examination was carried out by local officers assisted by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

Local Superintendent Michael Lernihan ruled out any criminal role in the fire.

Inside the gutted building yesterday, the huge metal collapsed roofing was visible among the debris.

This was being investigated as a possible cause for the deaths of the two firefighters.

“Unconfirmed rumours have said that the roof may have collapsed,” said Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach Anne Ferris.

“Obviously the entire community is devastated by this dreadful loss of life,” she said before adding that the local council would be looking at the introduction of a full-time fire service for Bray in the future.

President Mary McAleese expressed her condolences to the men’s families, praising their heroism and selflessness in making the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety of others. Local councillors and TDs also expressed their sympathies.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea described the deaths as a terrible tragedy.

SIPTU senior officials also paid tribute to the two men who lost their lives.

“The role of part-time fire fighters rarely receives the acknowledgement it deserves and it is unfortunate that it is only at times like this that the community realises the debt we owe them for their selfless and often dangerous work.

“Brian Murray will be well known to many SIPTU members. He was a leading workplace representative in Bray and was a delegate to the National Retained Fire Fighters Conference.

“He made a very important contribution to improving the working conditions of his colleagues and in securing more resources or the service. Mark O’Shaughnessy was a younger man, with a great commitment to the service who wanted to make a difference for the better in the lives of others and the community in which he lived.”

SIPTU added that both men would be sorely missed by their families, comrades and friends.