Call for sensors to find people trapped in buildings

A relative of a 59-year-old businessman, killed in a suspected gas explosion, has called for sensors to be made available to emergency services to check if a trapped person is alive inside a building.

James Gleeson died when a massive blast demolished his launderette in the centre of Killarney, Co Kerry, just as he arrived for work at the weekend.

The explosion occurred at 6.20am at Brewery Lane, but a search of a mound of debris and the scene did not start until around 2pm, leading to local disquiet about the delay.

Cllr Michael Gleeson, a first cousin of Mr Gleeson, said yesterday that once the safety of the public and rescuers could be guaranteed, the rescue or discovery of the missing person should be the great priority.

It was not fair, he said, that the rescue process should have to wait for an “overly long time” for the arrival of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) people.

“If their [HSA] presence is vital, then they should have access to a helicopter,” said Mr Gleeson, a member of Kerry County Council and Killarney Town Council.

“There should also be ready access to a sensor machine that would determine if a trapped person is still alive.”

Amid fears people still alive may have been trapped inside, people at the scene on Saturday voiced concerns about the delay in beginning a search.

Emergency personnel said they had to wait for the arrival of the HSA inspectorate before they would enter the building. An inspector arrived around 1.40pm.

However, a HSA spokesman strongly rejected any suggestions it was responsible for a delay.

He told the Irish Examiner the decision not to commence a search had been made by the emergency services.

“They may have had good reasons but they didn’t have to wait. There was no question of anyone having to wait for us,” he said.

“They [emergency services] don’t take orders from us and it would be very unusual for us to ask them to wait. They made the decision themselves.”

The spokesman also said the HSA’s role was to establish how the accident happened and it was up to the fire service to determine the structural integrity of the scene and make it safe.

He said the HSA was notified of the accident at 8am and an inspector from the midlands, based in Athlone, was sent to Killarney, adding the inspector got there as quickly as he could.

The body of Mr Gleeson, a married father of one, was found on Sunday morning and removed from the scene before noon. He is believed to have died instantly.

A number of investigations into the explosion are continuing. The scene at Brewery Lane and three nearby buildings was still sealed off yesterday. Windows in neighbouring premises smashed by the blast, heard over a kilometre away, are boarded up.

Mr Gleeson’s remains will repose at the home of his brother, Donagh, at Countess Rd, Killarney, between 3.30pm and 6.30pm tomorrow, followed by removal to St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10.30am, on Thursday, with burial immediately afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery.

Mr Gleeson is also survived by wife Grace, son Eoin and sister, Maureen Sheridan.