RELATIVES OF 61 people who died in Ireland's worst aviation disaster gathered yesterday at a church in Cork city for a special 40th anniversary Mass.
The Aer Lingus Viscount was on a flight from Cork to London Heathrow when it crashed into the sea near Tuskar Rock, Wexford, at 12.15pm on Sunday, March 24th, 1968. The passengers and crew were from Switzerland, Britain, Belgium and Ireland with 36 of the 61 from the Cork area.
Only 14 bodies were ever found.
Among the dead was the parish priest of Ballyphehane, Fr Edward Hegarty, who was remembered yesterday as a generous man who worked tirelessly for the local community. He was on one of his regular trips to London to help parishioners who had emigrated.
Yesterday's mass at the Church of the Assumption in Ballyphehane was celebrated by Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, who was assisted by two priests of the parish and Fr Charlie Lyons from Carrigaline who lost a brother in the Tuskar Rock tragedy.
Bishop Buckley used the occasion to call for a special memorial to be erected in Cork acknowledging those who had lost their lives in the Tuskar Rock accident.
A permanent memorial has been in place in Rosslare Park in Wexford since 2006 with Bishop Buckley and local councillors saying it is now time for Cork to honour those who died with a plaque or a monument.
Meanwhile, parish priest of Ballyphehane, Fr Michael Murphy, said the plane crash had created unimaginable suffering for the families affected by the tragedy. "Lives were damaged forever. Some were orphaned and families lost their breadwinner. People lost their best friends. Families did suffer.
"Today we remember with great love those who died in that crash. We remember all those who suffered because of losing loved ones. People in this parish are very associated with the crash. Some were going to a meeting in London and a priest was accompanying them. We heard of people who changed their plans and ended up on that fatal journey. Many of the 61 victims of Tuskar Rock were left without a tangible grave."
Among the congregation at yesterday's Mass was Frank O'Brien, whose Uncle Gus died in the crash, and Michael Burke who lost his mother, grandmother and aunt in the accident.