A BUSINESSMAN from Britain who survived the aircraft crash at Cork airport last month paid tribute yesterday to the emergency crews and hospital staff for the heroism and skill they displayed on the day of the tragedy.
Speaking before joining his fellow survivors at an ecumenical service at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne in Cork, Watford father-of-three Mark Dickens said he was keen to pay his respects to the families of the passengers who died in the Manx2, Belfast to Cork, crash on February 10th.
“I really wanted to be here to say ‘thank you’ to the emergency crews and also the staff who looked after me, and to come and see some of the other families and to pay our respects for those who didn’t make it. And to maybe see those injured that remain in hospital.
“It wasn’t a difficult question to come. It was just a difficult journey to get here because I didn’t really want to fly, understandably, so it was a bit of a laborious car and ferry crossing.”
Mr Dickens (40) has a number of injuries to his right arm that are expected to take time to heal. He said the care he received in Cork was “amazing.” He was accompanied by his wife, Tara, who said she felt “very lucky” to still have her husband. She said she was conscious of the relatives who didn’t have as fortunate an outcome as her family.
Among the congregation were survivors Peter Cowley, Donal Walsh, Lawrence Wilson and Heather Elliot. Relatives of the deceased who attended included Anne Marie McAleese, wife of the late Brendan McAleese; John and Ann Cantle, parents of co-pilot Andrew Cantle; and Alison Noble, widow of Richard Noble.
Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley and Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Paul Colton led the service to commemorate those killed and to pay tribute to those involved in the rescue effort. Candles were lit for the victims including pilot Jordi Sola Lopez, Pat Cullinan and Michael Evans. Fr Michael Murphy, who administered the last rites at the airport, asked survivors to focus on how fortunate they were to survive.
Prayers of the faithful were recited by members of Cork airport police, Cork city and county fire officers, representatives of the emergency department at Cork University Hospital and Supt Charles Barry for An Garda Síochána. Attendees included Capt Murt Larkin representing President Mary McAleese and Comdt Michael Treacy, aide-de-camp to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.