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Ireland's President's Relative Dies in Plane Crash

11 Feb 2011

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Plane crash site

Six people, including a relative of Ireland's President, have died in a plane crash, reports the Press Association (PA).
Two businessmen from Northern Ireland, a Briton, a Spanish pilot and a British co-pilot believed to be from York, were also among those killed.

Six other people were injured - two miraculously walking away from the mangled wreckage - when the 18-seater turboprop crashed on landing in thick fog at Cork Airport.
Brendan McAleese, who owned the Central Laundries business in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, was a cousin of Dr Martin McAleese, husband of the Irish Republic's President Mary McAleese. He was married with a young family.

Another of those killed was Pat Cullinan, aged in his 40s and originally from Omagh, Co Tyrone, he was a partner in leading accountancy firm KPMG in Belfast. A third victim was Captain Michael Evans, Deputy Harbour Master in Belfast.
Sources close to the investigation named the pilot as Jordi Gola Lopez from Spain and English co-pilot Andrew Cantle, believed to be from York.

Mrs McAleese and Taoiseach Brian Cowen expressed their shock and sadness at the tragedy - the worst on record at an Irish airport.
"I am especially conscious of the pain being experienced tonight by all of the bereaved as one of the deceased was Brendan McAleese, my husband Martin's cousin," the president said. "His family have lost a fine and loving husband, father, son and brother, and their awful grief is replicated in the lives of all those who lost their loved ones in today's crash.

"To the survivors also we send our heartfelt wishes for a quick and full recovery from the immense trauma they have experienced."

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