County Westmeath: Two people dead in helicopter crash

Two people have died following a helicopter crash near Killucan, County Westmeath in the Republic of Ireland.

The incident happened at a rural farm at around 15:30 BST.

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) and emergency services responded to the incident.

Two men on board the helicopter were pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardaí are liaising with the family of one of the men, an Irish national aged in his 40s.

Gardaí have said they may require the assistance of Interpol in establishing contact with the next of kin of the second man, who they believe is from eastern Europe.

Both bodies have been taken from the scene to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post-mortem examinations will take place.

The local coroner has also been notified.

Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service have now left the scene which will remain persevered overnight.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) is the authority for investigating air accidents and serious incidents in Ireland and it is the lead agency investigating the incident.

A local hurling club has cancelled all training for Tuesday evening.

Declan Weir, chairperson of Raharney Hurling Club, said the farm is very close to the GAA club.

“There was camogie and hurling training there this evening, so we called it off as a mark of respect to the families,” Mr Weir told BBC News NI.

“That was our initial thing to do as a mark of respect to the families,” he said.

Mr Weir said people in the local community were “shocked and concerned” to hear the news of the crash.

“There was relief at first to find out there was nobody killed in the farm building, but then shock and sadness, of course, when they found out that there were two men killed in the helicopter,” he said.

Mr Weir added: “I’m sure there’ll be prayers said and maybe a memorial or something for the families, locally.”

Daryl Kennedy, secretary of Raharney Hurling Club, told RTÉ News: “Conditions today were perfect; there is a beautiful open landscape here, and whatever happened, it is quite unfortunate.”

Mr Kennedy offered thoughts and prayers with all those involved in the incident and emergency services.

The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris said he is being kept up-to-date on the crash and extended thanks to emergency services at the scene.

In a post on X, formerly twitter, Mr Harris said he is “thinking of all those involved”.

Mayor of Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District Ken Glynn described the incident as “shocking and tragic”.

“I’m surprised and shocked, it’s not something you would expect to hear in your own locality,” Mr Glynn said.

He said his thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved in the incident and the first responders.

“It is a difficult scene for emergency services to be attending,” he said.

Fr Stan Deegan, parish priest of St Brigid’s Church in Raharney, told RTÉ News he was “shocked to hear the news”.

“Whoever the people are who are involved in the incident, and wherever they are from, I hope and pray that life will be spared,” he said.

“It is a serious event, and you would worry for the families involved.

“The local community is a very hospitable one, with a good community spirit, and the people here would respond to local needs.”