Girl (7) killed by speedboat on family hol in Albania
Shock of dead man’s son who was at the scene
Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Aengus O’Rourke, who was also a friend of Dessie’s, described him as “a softly spoken man who was the epitome of great craic”.
“He had the turn of phrase, he had the sense of humour, he had the timing, he had the memory of all the stories going back 30 years that we had forgotten about.
“I only bumped into him two weeks ago when he and his family were out for Sunday lunch and he was in great form as usual,” said Cllr McCarthy, who said he did not know Muriel as she was older than he and Dessie and moved to Malmo many years ago.
“Everyone is in disbelief of the awful tragedy and loss of Dessie and his sister Muriel.
“Dessie loved his two boys Dean and Josh and he was always attending Dean’s football matches.
“He was fit in body and mind and a great craftsman,” said Cllr O’Rourke.
Owen O’Connor, a former PRO of Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club and a member of the club, said Dessie was “good craic, the life and soul of the party for our trips abroad”.
“We are all in shock over his and his sister’s passing. I knew him through the cycling club which he was a member of for many years. We did trips cycling with Dessie from Dublin to Lecarrow and trips to Wales and Scotland. He will be deeply missed.”
Lecarrow Lazers Cycling Club also paid tribute to the siblings, offering its condolences to their heartbroken families.
Sympathies
In a post on social media, the club wrote: “It is with great shock and sadness that we have learned of the tragic passing of our dear friend and club mate Dessie Byrne and his sister Muriel in a drowning accident yesterday evening.
“On behalf of the Club we extend our sympathies to Dessie’s family, relatives and friends.”
The club also cancelled all of its activities for the weekend as a mark of respect for Dessie and Muriel.
A BRITISH girl was killed by a speedboat in front of her dad while on holiday in Albania.
Seven-year-old Jonada Avdia was in the sea with dad Bledar in a roped-off area for swimmers when the boat hit and killed her.
Bledar was seen confronting off-duty policeman Arjan Tase, now facing trial over Jonada’s death.
Bledar said: “I was with my daughter near the shore, I saw a white boat. It came at hellish speed and separated me and the girl.
“I dived under the water and the craft hit my daughter with the engine part, cutting her all over.”
Separate
He and Tase were later seen locking arms as onlookers rushed to separate them.
Jonada, from Barking, East London, was killed on Tuesday afternoon on Potam beach during a break with Bledar and her mum in their native Albania.
Tase, reportedly a police chief from Elbasan, was remanded in custody yesterday to await trial for indirect intentional homicide.
Investigators claim he drove through an area for swimmers clearly marked by buoys. 15 officers have been sacked.