Tributes were paid yesterday by political and community leaders to a member of An Garda Síochána and a member of the fire service who were killed in Co Limerick while attending at the scene of a road traffic crash.
Garda Brian Kelleher (46), a married father of three from Bruree, Co Limerick, and Michael Brosnan, (48) a married father of four and a member of Foynes Fire Service were both killed instantly in the crash at Borrigone, Foynes, at 5.15am yesterday.
A native of Upper Quartertown in Mallow in Co Cork, Garda Kelleher, who was stationed at Croom in Co Limerick, is survived by his wife, Marie and three young sons, James (10), Finbarr (8) and Christopher (4).
Mr Liston lived at Dernish in Foynes with his wife, Bernadette and was the father of four children, Noelle (23), Lynn (19), Niall (16) and Ann (15). He worked full-time as a JCB digger driver with Limerick County Council and served as a Retained Fire Fighter.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea led the tributes to both men.
Supt Joe Roe of Askeaton Garda station also paid tribute both Garda Kelleher and Mr Liston and said that it was a particularly sad day for their colleagues in both An Garda Síochána and the Limerick County Fire Service.
"It's an appalling tragedy and a very sad day for us in An Garda Síochána - Garda Brian Kelleher was a colleague so it's a devastating blow for us and a devastating blow for the fire service too to lose Michael Liston because we work hand-in-hand with them as well.
"Ultimately though, it's their families who have suffered the greatest loss and for this to happen at 5am when most people are at home in their beds as they were out clearing the road to make it safe for other road users, that makes it all the more tragic," he said.
"He was totally committed and totally fearless in his work and I suppose he had reached a stage in his career now where he was proving a great mentor to many of the younger members of the force - our hearts go out to his family," said Supt Roe.
Limerick County Fire Service Chief, Carmel Kirby, extended her sympathies and those of all in the fire service to the families of Mr Liston and Garda Kelleher and said that it was the worst ever day in the history of the fire service in Co Limerick.
"He is the first member of the fire service in Co Limerick to die in the line of duty so it's by far the grimmest day we've had in the service," said Ms Kirby, adding that Mr Liston had worked as a Retained Fire fighter on a part-time basis for the past 17 years. Local Foynes curate, Fr John Mockler said that the local community was in a state of shock and he described Mr Liston as a man with a great community spirit.
"Mike was the nicest fellow, he had a great community spirit. He was involved in organising the St Patrick's Day parade here and if help was needed at anything, Mike would be there. He was so approachable, you couldn't but like him.
"He was the soundest fellow, absolutely A1, everyone would only have good to say about him," said Fr Mockler who anointed both men at the scene before going to break the dreadful news of the to Mr Liston's wife and family.
Yesterday's loss is the second to hit the Liston family and follows the death of Mr Liston's brother, Tom (41) in a freak accident over two years ago when he and another man, Niall Fitzpatrick (36) from Broadford, Co Limerick were electrocuted while helping to move a portable lamp at the wake of a crash victim on November 14th, 2004.
