PILOT AND LOUGHREA BUSINESSMAN WHO DIED IN PLANE CRASH NAMED

Date Published: 06-Jul-2007

The two men killed in yesterday afternoon’s plane crash in Inverin have been named locally.

Well known businessman & accountant Paul McNamee, of Lake Road in Loughrea lost his life when the Cessna Caravan plane came down in an airfield near the landing strip.

Pilot of the plane Matt Masterson, from Dublin was also killed in the plane crash which happened shortly after 3 o’clock when it missed the runway & nosedived into a nearby field.

8 men and the pilot were on the plane which was en route from Inis Meáin to Inverin when it came down near the end of the 6 mile journey.

3 people are in a critical condition in hospital this morning, one of whom is said to be fighting for his life.

2 others remain in a serious condition and two men are said to be comfortable at UCHG

Paul McNamee, a married father of 2 was in his mid 50s and operated an accountancy firm on Barrack Street in the town.

Others on board were 3 well known Clifden hoteliers, Brian Hughes of the Abbeyglen Hotel and his father in law Kevin Barry Senior and Brian’s brother in law Kevin Barry Junior.

Builder and developer Martin Acton from Clifden was on board, while Eugene Hollihan from Masonbrook and David Hennessy, who’s operations director for the John Sweeney group of hotels was also on the plane.

Alan Smith from Dublin was the 8th passenger