By Michele Canning
THE leader of an elite Fire Service road rescue squad has said it will continue on its work in memory of Paul O'Brien (36), the firefighter killed in a road crash in Castlederg last week.
Mr O'Brien, from Kesh, County Fermanagh was killed when his car struck a wall on the Learmount Road, Castlederg on Thursday last.
In a tragic twist of fate, the victim had just completed a demonstration to colleagues on how to handle a road collision.
Omagh man Paddy Quinn who heads up the four-strong team, which also comprises Strabane man Ben McGarrigle and Noel Mullan, revealed it had only officially been in action for ten days when they lost their colleague.
A second tragic coincidence saw Mr O'Brien's colleagues tasked to the scene, where they had to cut their friend free from the tangled wreckage.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Quinn said his team were devastated by the sudden loss of their colleague.
"Paul was so dedicated and it is ironic the way the accident happened. We had more than a working relationship as a team. I can't put it into words.
"We wore our new uniforms that night and Paul was so proud and so enthusiastic and wanted to ensure the night went well. Afterwards he told me 'We'll be a great team'.
"In the next six weeks he had planned to undertake five courses and was off to the Fire Service College, which was an ambition of his. He was so thrilled about it. He would have been qualified as a Road Traffic Collision Instructor," Mr Quinn explained.
Vowing to continue working in memory of their colleague, Mr Quinn added: "In a way it will not be hard to carry on because we will be driving it on to be a success because of Paul. It will be in memory of him. It is the only honour for him and we will be giving it as much as we can."
Mr O'Brien was laid to rest on Monday after being afforded a full Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service guard of honour.
During the funeral service, Fr Brendan Gallagher spoke of a shocked community, and how that same community had rallied round to support the O'Brien family. He also spoke of how well regarded the late Mr O'Brien had been in his community.
"He was a huge, big, strong physical man, and he was recognised as such. He had a physical presence about him and he was well known around the church and the school. He brought his children back and forth to both," Fr Gallagher said. Firefighter O'Brien is survived by his wife Anita and children Ríona, Evie and Tiana.
