Elite forces in Paris to protect Ryder Cup golfers
Overjoyed Noreen Fitzpatrick and Alan Patterson are still in shock after identical bundles of joy Sophie and Nicole were born on August 14.
The tiny sisters arrived after a Caesarean section three years to the day after twins Daniel and Ella were delivered – and they weighed exactly the same.
Construction worker Alan told the Irish Mirror: “We’re absolutely delighted and there’s great excitement between family and friends.
“None of them can believe it. Having a set of boy-girl twins three years ago is Europe in 2014 something but to have a second set of identical twin girls now is very exciting.
“Some people are saying they can see me in them and others can see Noreen in them and some people can’t tell one from the other.
“Even myself and Noreen have trouble telling them apart as well at times.”
The couple, from Headford in Co Galway, had an anxious wait after complications during Sophie’s birth and the tot had to be revived.
Nicole was born weighing 5.8lbs, the same as older brother Daniel, while Sophie arrived at
6.2lbs, as was the case with big sister ELITE armed officers will be on terror alert to protect European and American golfers at the Ryder Cup in France.
Missiles will also be used to create a “ring of steel” around the course 20 miles from Paris, which is still on a heightened security footing.
A senior French source said: Ella. Alan, 42, said the novelty of having two sets of twins born on the same day was not lost on the medical staff.
He added: “Even in the hospital there was a clamour to see them.
“The doctors and nurses were saying that’s the first time they’ve seen it, two sets of twins born on the same date three years apart.
“Their 18th and their 21st will come on the same day. I think that’s the next time myself and Noreen might get out for a night the way things are going.”
Alan described his 38-year-old wife, who has three children from a previous relationship, as “supermum”.
YESTERDAY, CO GALWAY
“Teams will be on standby couple of minutes away.
“Everybody coming into the area will be protected on the ground by armed police.
“Mobile surface-to-air missiles will be deployed in case of attacks from the air.”
Just six miles from Le Golf National course is the HQ of the a He said when they discovered they were having twins “there was shock”.
He added: “I was black and blue for about a week after it.
“Noreen hit me a few belts as if it was totally my fault. It was kind of a joke.
“She got told the date of the section and it didn’t sink in for a while that it was going to be the date of our first twins’ birthdays.
“We had no say in the date at all. It was the date given to us.
“It was a surprise as well. We were told to be on alert from week 26 onwards and Noreen carried them over 37 weeks.
“We were told to have our bags packed, be ready to come in.
“But she nearly carried them the full distance. She had a very good pregnancy.”
Even myself and Noreen have trouble telling them apart
ALAN PATTERSON
GIGN, the tactical unit of France’s gendarmerie specialising in counter terrorism.
RAID, an elite unit of the French National Police, is based 10 miles away.
Ryder Cup match director Edward Kitson said: “The main priority of Ryder Cup Europe is always to host a safe event. This is reflected in our overall planning, including site access, transport and ticket security. We are working very closely with French government agencies.”
Local businesses will close and spectators will have to use shuttle buses to reach the showpiece event, from September 28 to 30, where there will be screening.