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Updated 7.48pm
TWO MEN HAVE died and four others have been injured after a wall collapsed at a DIY store on the Athlone Road in Longford. Gardaí this evening confirmed that one man in 40s and a second man believed to be in his 60s died after the incident at the Connacht Gold DIY and Garden Centre this afternoon.
Four other people remain in hospital in Tullamore and Mullingar. Emergency services from Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar were called to assist at the scene of the accident. CEO of Connacht Gold Aaron Forde said the company is co-operating with investigations into the cause of the fatal accident.
“Safety is a primary concern for Connacht Gold and we are co-operating in every way with the emergency services, the Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority in supporting those affected and in establishing the cause of the accident,” Forde said in a statement this evening.
He expressed sympathy for the family of the men who were fatally injured in the accident at the Longford store and said the company is providing counselling to employees and shoppers who were affected by the accident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them and also the other injured people,” said Forde. The Connacht Gold store opened on the site just over nine months ago.
-Additional reporting by Christine Bohan
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Just to be clear, I posted the above comment 5 hours ago when the story first appeared here. At that time no injuries had been reported. All that was known was that a wall collapsed and emergency crews were at the scene.
Anyway, condolences to the families that have lost loved ones and best wishes to the injured parties.
why the hell would people give the above comment a “thumbs down” sickos
Even the mention of the words ‘thumbs down’ is enough to get thumbs down. Watch…
@Robert, because they are a lot of unhealthy minded trolls on here all day, every day, they are unable to make a valid comment themselves, so they red thumb all and sundry.. It’s always the usual suspects, so take no notice of them and keep on moving on, because you can.. :)
R.I.P. to the person who lost their life there today.. Just hope the others recover..
because if he read the headline he’d see that everyone hasnt escaped injury?! maybe?
Well i did because i felt it was a bit stupid!”hope no one was hurt in the shop” the wall fell in the shop and thats where they were injured and killed!
Stinger, I posted that comment before any deaths or injuries were confirmed. All that had been reported at the time is that a wall collapsed and emergency services were at the scene.
Trolls that’s who they are and they always appear on such very sad distressing stories such as this one they are really very sad and idle people so I just ignore all red thumbs and i do not give them any credence at all now
Another tragic incident. R.I.P
fair dues mart
Doesn’t say much when a DIY shop collapses.
Only opened a few months ago. Last april I think. Terrible news. Hope all survivers recover. Toughts go out to the deceased man.
Such an awful tragedy for the town. RIP.
r.i.p. to the man that died …. it just shows we never know when things are going to happen … hope the injured are not too bad ….
Tragic news. Thoughts with all involved
It’s only a red thumb peeps calm down. Rip to the poor chap
Horrible News. I hope they get well soon and my condolences go to the mans family and friends. R.I.P
RTE reporting that a second man has passed away this evening. Very sad news indeed. RIP to those concerned.
It was built in boom, but was seriously damaged by arson a few years ago, not saying that was the cause but maybe
Two dead now , poor families
Graham is right. Connacht Gold may have moved in less than 12 months ago, but the building is older.
Condolences to the families involved and a speedy recovery to the injured xx
R.i.p.
That building was rebuilt internally after an arson attack a few years back left it scorched and twisted.
Other reports saying 5 injured – 2 seriously.
RIP.
Cian you couldn’t be more wrong. The building is 5 years old. God help the engineer who signed off on it after the fire.
Internal wall collapsed 4 injured 2 seriously.
RIP and great sympathy to the families friends and coleagues of both men. Commisserations also to those wo must deal with the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.
And Sadler it has now emerged that 2 men have died from their injuries and 1 person is seriously ill my prayers for the deceased. may they rest in peace and may the injured have a speedy recovery …..
Very sad. Engineers report should be v-interesting
Wouldn’t like to be that structural engineer!
Sadler should read SADLY. apologies for spelling and not reading before posting
A terrible tragedy. RIP
Yea Dick!
Condolences to the families. Very sad news, RIP.
Actually Graham, it was built 12 mths ago. Careless comment…
It used to be brooks providers, was burnt in 08 I think.
Any of these warehouse type retail businesses that have shutter doors open for very long spells allowing gales to whip through them are at risk. I know of one facility in Dublin that seen tall racking become dislodged due to the recent high winds, for the reasons stated above. Nonetheless RIP to the deceased and a speedy recovery to the injured
So sad, my thoughts are with their loved ones x
Probably not appropriate on this thread Isla…… But I have seen two front garden walls that have fallen in the last while. Bit risky to climb on back garden walls built without pillars in the last decade. Not to mention those built with those big concrete slabs.
@bernadette,no need to apologize happens all the time here,most will make the connection others all the grammar police pop in the odd time with lessons
Reading all the treads, patterns and comments and I’m wowed by how selfish some of us can be. A life is lost tragically, witnesses are traumatised. 8, 5, 12 months, who cares. This is Ireland the last time I checked and unless am wrong, brown envelopes are passing around at this moment so no ones loosing their jobs. Not the engineer nor the builders that’s been made redundant by the economic downfall. Remember the life lost because sometimes tragedy is closer to home than we think. Wish the 2 men’s family all the strength to continue without them and hope we one day find that virtue that defines the human in us. I truly hope . What goes around comes around so feel free to thumbs up, or down but consider yourself lucky if u get a thumbs middle on your tragedy and before someone starts barking, I meant death as a tragedy to life.
Jesus Christ that’s horrible news, thoughts are with the families.
Why would God allow such a thing to happen? I think I know the answer.
There’s a time & a place Dick. This isn’t it.
@ Steve and I have been the dunce in the class many a time for mis-spelling a few times lol lol but the troops that are correction duties are most of the time very rude too lol lol
From the Wikipedia article on the death of uilleann piper Johnny Doran:
On January 30, 1948, Doran’s caravan was parked on waste ground near Back Lane in Dublin’s Cornmarket area. It was very windy, and a brick wall collapsed on the caravan, and also on Doran, who was outside lacing up his shoes. Doran was completely covered by bricks and rubble. His lower back was injured during the rescue process as, according to one of his daughters, he was pulled free from the debris. Johnny was afterwards paralyzed from the waist down. His injuries led to continuing ill health and he died on January 9, 1950 in Athy, Co. Kildare. He is buried in Rathnew cemetery.
Be careful out there when it’s windy.
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