Post by groo on Nov 27, 2008 8:53:14 GMT 5
PSNI OFFICERS KILLED IN CRASH.
Four Officers in Police Service of Northern Ireland were tragically killed on Sunday morning when the 4x4 jeep they were driving crashed. The crash happened as the crew were driving towards Rosstrevor on the coast road outside Warrenpoint when the accident happened at about 0400 GMT.
The scene of the fatal crash.
It was believed the crew were responding to assist colleagues who were being attacked by a crowd. The officers who lost their lives were Constable Kevin Gorman (24), Part-time Constable Declan Greene (39), Part-time Constable Kenny Irvine (30), and Constable James Magee (27).
Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said an investigation into the crash had started. "The vehicle collided with a wall at a small bridge and caught fire," she said. ACC Gillespie said the vehicle had, like most other police vehicles, been fitted with a 'black box' device, "which will record all the details of the incident at the time".
She said it was too early to say whether the dark and wet conditions were a factor in the crash. Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde visited the scene of the tragedy on Sunday morning. He said he was "shocked" at what he had seen, and at the loss suffered by both the families of the men and the PSNI.
Kevin Gorman
Constable Kevin Gorman who lost his life in Sunday's car accident leaves a daughter and was looking forward to the birth of a second baby. Kevin Gorman was one of the youngest killed. He was 24 years old and came from a well-known family in Drumaness.
Mr Gorman's mother, Jackie, is chair of the local Gaelic Athletic Club. He also leaves one brother, Shane. Mr Gorman played both gaelic football and soccer. On the day before he died, he scored a winning goal in a soccer match.
At Constable Gorman's funeral, a tribute from his brother Shane - read aloud by his uncle Paddy Jones - described the father-of-one as a "smart, funny, confident and outgoing" individual who made friends where ever he went. And he said that the his daughter Shannyn had been the "apple of his eye" who took over the lives of him and his fiancée. Shane also said that his brother was "just everything" to him, describing him as his "hero". He said: "From no age, I would follow him around and basically try to do everything he did. I was forever stealing his clothes and watching his DVDs.
Part-time Constable Declan Greene
Part Time Police Constable Declan Greene was also a married man who joined the Service on 3 June 2006. Declan was 39 years old and also worked and lived in Kilkeel with his wife Roisin, three sons, Rory 19, Darren 16, Cormac 5 and their 3 year old daughter Sophie.
The family of part-time police officer Declan Greene, 39, had already experienced tragedy with the deaths of three generations in a fishing tragedy. In February 2002, Declan Greene's uncle, cousin and second cousin died when their boat, the Tullaghmurry Lass, sank off the south Down coast. It was the dedication of police divers at that time that impressed him and led to his decision to join the police, Alex Slater from the Fishermen's Mission said.
Part-time Constable Kenny Irvine
Part Time Police Constable Kenneth Thomas Irvine, known as Kenny, joined the PSNI on 3 December 2006. He was 30 years old and lived and worked in Kilkeel. Kenny was married to Andrea. They have a baby son Callum.
DUP councillor for Newry and Mourne William Burns said he had known him for most of the Kilkeel man's life, and described his death as a "blow to the community". He said Mr Irvine, was a member of Ballyvea Orange lodge and a keen musician, and recalled how he had come and asked him about what the role of a police officer entailed.
"I would like to pass on my condolences to all the families," he said. "Words cannot describe what the community feels. I am a local councillor for 15 years and I have known Kenneth through different things," he said. "He was a young fellow who was full of life who wanted to do things to help the community, to make life better for everybody."
Constable James Magee
Constable James Robert Bawn Magee joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 6 November 2005. He was 27 years old and unmarried. Originally from Dromore ,County Down, James lived in Newcastle. He is survived by his mother and father, Freda and Bawn, and his 2 sisters Sarah and Rachel.
Desmond Patterson, an Ulster Unionist councillor in Down and former vice chairman of the District Policing Partnership said he came across as "very competent" and someone who had showed great promise in his work.
"Constable Magee went about his duties very well and when I was working with him, he seemed to be very good with the public. He was a good officer and he had a great future ahead of him." Mr Patterson said the community in the Mourne area were "devastated" by what had happened and their thoughts were with the men's families.
Four Officers in Police Service of Northern Ireland were tragically killed on Sunday morning when the 4x4 jeep they were driving crashed. The crash happened as the crew were driving towards Rosstrevor on the coast road outside Warrenpoint when the accident happened at about 0400 GMT.
The scene of the fatal crash.
It was believed the crew were responding to assist colleagues who were being attacked by a crowd. The officers who lost their lives were Constable Kevin Gorman (24), Part-time Constable Declan Greene (39), Part-time Constable Kenny Irvine (30), and Constable James Magee (27).
Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said an investigation into the crash had started. "The vehicle collided with a wall at a small bridge and caught fire," she said. ACC Gillespie said the vehicle had, like most other police vehicles, been fitted with a 'black box' device, "which will record all the details of the incident at the time".
She said it was too early to say whether the dark and wet conditions were a factor in the crash. Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde visited the scene of the tragedy on Sunday morning. He said he was "shocked" at what he had seen, and at the loss suffered by both the families of the men and the PSNI.
Kevin Gorman
Constable Kevin Gorman who lost his life in Sunday's car accident leaves a daughter and was looking forward to the birth of a second baby. Kevin Gorman was one of the youngest killed. He was 24 years old and came from a well-known family in Drumaness.
Mr Gorman's mother, Jackie, is chair of the local Gaelic Athletic Club. He also leaves one brother, Shane. Mr Gorman played both gaelic football and soccer. On the day before he died, he scored a winning goal in a soccer match.
At Constable Gorman's funeral, a tribute from his brother Shane - read aloud by his uncle Paddy Jones - described the father-of-one as a "smart, funny, confident and outgoing" individual who made friends where ever he went. And he said that the his daughter Shannyn had been the "apple of his eye" who took over the lives of him and his fiancée. Shane also said that his brother was "just everything" to him, describing him as his "hero". He said: "From no age, I would follow him around and basically try to do everything he did. I was forever stealing his clothes and watching his DVDs.
Part-time Constable Declan Greene
Part Time Police Constable Declan Greene was also a married man who joined the Service on 3 June 2006. Declan was 39 years old and also worked and lived in Kilkeel with his wife Roisin, three sons, Rory 19, Darren 16, Cormac 5 and their 3 year old daughter Sophie.
The family of part-time police officer Declan Greene, 39, had already experienced tragedy with the deaths of three generations in a fishing tragedy. In February 2002, Declan Greene's uncle, cousin and second cousin died when their boat, the Tullaghmurry Lass, sank off the south Down coast. It was the dedication of police divers at that time that impressed him and led to his decision to join the police, Alex Slater from the Fishermen's Mission said.
Part-time Constable Kenny Irvine
Part Time Police Constable Kenneth Thomas Irvine, known as Kenny, joined the PSNI on 3 December 2006. He was 30 years old and lived and worked in Kilkeel. Kenny was married to Andrea. They have a baby son Callum.
DUP councillor for Newry and Mourne William Burns said he had known him for most of the Kilkeel man's life, and described his death as a "blow to the community". He said Mr Irvine, was a member of Ballyvea Orange lodge and a keen musician, and recalled how he had come and asked him about what the role of a police officer entailed.
"I would like to pass on my condolences to all the families," he said. "Words cannot describe what the community feels. I am a local councillor for 15 years and I have known Kenneth through different things," he said. "He was a young fellow who was full of life who wanted to do things to help the community, to make life better for everybody."
Constable James Magee
Constable James Robert Bawn Magee joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 6 November 2005. He was 27 years old and unmarried. Originally from Dromore ,County Down, James lived in Newcastle. He is survived by his mother and father, Freda and Bawn, and his 2 sisters Sarah and Rachel.
Desmond Patterson, an Ulster Unionist councillor in Down and former vice chairman of the District Policing Partnership said he came across as "very competent" and someone who had showed great promise in his work.
"Constable Magee went about his duties very well and when I was working with him, he seemed to be very good with the public. He was a good officer and he had a great future ahead of him." Mr Patterson said the community in the Mourne area were "devastated" by what had happened and their thoughts were with the men's families.
