Two of crash victims remain in intensive care
HSE officials have confirmed two individuals remain in the facility’s ICU and will not be released for at least another week.
Two more passengers remain in a stable condition in other parts of the hospital.
While the HSE has declined to confirm who is being treated at the ICU, it is understood the four who remain in hospital are:
- Peter Cowley from Glanmire in Cork, a 31-year-old son of the golfer of the same name.
- Heather Elliott, 42, originally from Kinsale in Cork now living in Belfast, a mother-of-two.
- Brendan Mallon, from Bangor in Co Down, a 36-year-old commercial trade manager of Falcon Holidays.
- Mark Dickens, from Watford in London, Britain.
All four were visited by Northern Ireland’s first minister, Martin McGuinness — who at one stage planned to take the doomed flight to Cork before deciding against the journey — yesterday.
Meanwhile, Dónal Walsh, 22, from St John’s Hill in Waterford city, and Laurence Wilson, in his 50s and from Larne in Co Antrim, were released yesterday after being kept in for observation overnight.
The pair miraculously walked away from the horror accident with what was described as just “soft tissue” damage by senior hospital staff.
At a HSE press conference on the grounds of CUH, a statement was released on behalf of Mr Walsh and Mr Wilson.
“We want to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and say that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time,” it read.
“We want to thank all the emergency services, the ambulance service, fire service and An Garda Siochána.
“If it wasn’t for their swift action, the loss of life would have been greater.
“We also want to thank all the staff at CUH for the wonderful care and support we have received,” they added.
Emergency medicine consultant, Dr Gerry McCarthy, said while the focus was on the update of the living, everybody was aware of the trauma affecting those who have lost loved ones. He said the two patients who are not in the ICU unit were still being monitored, partially because the “energy transfer” during the crash meant some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
The senior physician said those being treated are doing “reasonably well” but the two being cared for in the ICU unit are unlikely to be released for at least another week.
- Jordi Gola Lopez, pilot, 31, from Barcelona, Spain.
- Andrew Cantle, co-pilot, 27, from York, England.
- Brendan McAleese, passenger, 39, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone. First cousin of President Mary McAleese’s husband, Dr Martin McAleese.
- Pat Cullinan, passenger, originally from Omagh, Co Tyrone, but living in Belfast. Senior partner in KPMG.
- Captain Michael Evans, passenger, originally from England but living in Belfast. Deputy harbour master.
- Richard Noble, passenger, from Derbyshire, England. Businessman.
- Peter Cowley, passenger, 31, from Glanmire, Cork. Suffered punctured lung, broken collarbone and broken wrist.
- Heather Elliott, passenger, 42, originally from Kinsale but living in Belfast. Suffered internal injuries.
- Brendan Mallon, passenger, 36, from Bangor, Co Down, commercial trade manager with Falcon Holidays. Suffered broken bones.
- Mark Dickens, passenger, from Watford, London. Suffered unspecified injuries.
- Dónal Walsh, passenger, 22, from Waterford.
- Laurence Wilson, passenger, 50s, from Larne, Co Antrim. Businessman.
