REACTION:PRESIDENT MARY McAleese joined with clergy and politicians to offer sympathies and prayers for all those involved in the fatal plane crash in Cork Airport.
The President expressed “deep shock and sadness” on learning of the loss of life in the crash. She said her thoughts and prayers, and “those of all the people of Ireland”, were with the families of the deceased and the survivors “at this very difficult time”.
“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 added last night.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who travelled to Cork yesterday afternoon, said his thoughts were with all of those affected.
“Today is about acknowledging the great sense of loss that people feel as a result of this incident the first such incident, I understand, in relation to a commercial aircraft that has taken place at an Irish airport,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is that our emergency services responded very quickly and with great professionalism. I met with some of those who were the first responders at the aircraft this morning and I commended them for their work and I also spoke with the Deputy First Minister this afternoon and they wanted me to pass on their thanks and gratitude for the work of the emergency services. We must be sensitive to those concerned and respect their grief. Today is a very sad day.”
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness travelled to George Best Belfast City Airport shortly after yesterday’s plane crash pledging to offer whatever assistance they could to the injured and the relatives of the dead.
Mr McGuinness, in offering sympathy to the injured and bereaved, disclosed that he had been planning to travel on the same flight today to engage in general election canvassing in Munster for Sinn Fein. “This is a route I have travelled on on a number of occasions in the past. In fact I am going to be in Munster tomorrow and earlier in the week contemplated travelling on this flight, but that changed due to other circumstances,” said Mr McGuinness.
“So I am very conscious of the fact that this is a flight that is frequented by people from the business community, people who have family reasons to travel to Cork and indeed people who are involved in tourism,” he added.
Mr Robinson said the crash was shocking and horrific. “This is I think testimony to the unquestionable uncertainty of life. Families that set out either to do a day’s business or to enjoy some pleasure have been thrust into circumstances that they could not have imagined, ” he said. In a joint statement, Catholic Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, and Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, called for prayers for those killed or injured.Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Paul Colton said the “solidarity, love and prayers” of all in the Church of Ireland community went out to those caught up in the tragedy.Presbyterian Moderator Dr Norman Hamilton said his prayers and “those of the whole Presbyterian Community” were with the families and friends of all those who died. “