Tragic firefighters' families to meet Ahern

The families of two firefighters killed battling a blaze at a disused factory will meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today to reiterate their call for an independent probe into the tragedy.

Retained firemen Brian Murray, 46, a father of 15, and his colleague Mark O’Shaughnessy, 26, both from Bray died last September when the roof of a building in the town caved in on them.

The Murrays and O’Shaughnessys will meet Mr Ahern at Leinster House where they will outline what they view as deficiencies in the county’s fire service.

“People need to understand what has been going on in Bray which has now led to the deaths of two firefighters.

“The deaths have so far changed nothing,” said Mary Murray, Brian’s wife.

The families last week attended a meeting of the joint Oireachtas Environment Committee.

Today’s meeting, which begins at 1.15pm, is expected to last for around an hour.