Before this event happened, I was working in XtraVision in Sandyford (very near to Carrickmines for those unfamiliar). One evening this lad came in while I was walking around the shop floor and approached me while I was putting DVD cases back on the shelves.
He handed me a DVD case he was interested in, out of nowhere, and said “what does this say”, pointing at the blurb at the back. Took a sec but I realized the lad couldn’t read.
Anyway, without judgment I read it and proceeded to walk the floor with him, reading the DVD cases he was visually interested in. I think the dude appreciated me not judging him or anything, as he was a regular and this was the first time he approached a member of staff. For months, I would do this for him and we built a great relationship chatting about movies and shit.
Anyway, fast forward the clock a few months. Some little shits come in while I’m on a shift causing hassle. They were like 15 or so, but they were trying to steal, were abusive and intimidating etc.
Then, the same lad who I helped (who to be fair, was an absolute unit of a man), walks into the shop and sees what’s going on. To the shock of those little shits (who he knew), he basically rang their necks and fucked them out of the shop, told them he’d batter them if he ever saw them causing hassle and apologized to me for their behavior.
Oddly enough, a week before the fire, I was in Leisureplex in Stillorgan playing pool with a mate of mine and the dude was just 2 tables away from us. We gave each other a nod and said nothing more.
One week later to the day, the same lad, Thomas Connors, passed away in the fire, pictured to the right beside his wife.
RIP
Tragic loss of life, I remember this story when it happened. RIP
Morbid that two worst disasters in Ireland in recent times happened around the same time in October
May they rest in peace.
Heart breaking. I can’t believe it was 7 years ago.
An unborn child? why even mention it?
I was in NUIG recently to see the play about this tragedy called “Ireland sheds a tear?”. Powerful piece about this community and how they’re ostracized. Ironically, there was not a single college student there apart from some young ones that came in 40 minutes (!!!) late, basically invading the stage due to the layout of the venue, midst a monologue (and which I’m pretty sure only joined because the sandwiches at the entrance were to only be served after the play). Meanwhile the student bar was blasting David Guetta. Truly depressing but for me it kind of reflected Irelands attitude towards this conflict.
My son played for wayside around that time, and going by the site after was heartbreaking. So so tragic
I lived in Stepaside at the time. I remember the devastation at the location as I drove by it in the days after. An horrendous event to befall those who lost their lives and their extended families and friends..RIP.
It was very tragic , always a lesson not to get yourself polluted on drink and benzos and try make chips. It certainly doesnt help if your illegal electricity connection has no main fuse to cut off when the fire starts either.
Grew up with Thomas before he and his family were moved to the halting site. Absolute gentleman and would do anything for my family and I. I was actually in the site with him and his family around two weeks before the fire which is surreal to think about.
Still remember hearing the news and having this feeling in the pit of my stomach knowing he was involved in this. Broke my heart that day and I find myself thinking of him every once in a while.
RIP to the family, and to a good friend. Always in my heart
14 comments
That was tragic.
[deleted]
Tragedy. What was the cause?
Here’s a story for you.
Before this event happened, I was working in XtraVision in Sandyford (very near to Carrickmines for those unfamiliar). One evening this lad came in while I was walking around the shop floor and approached me while I was putting DVD cases back on the shelves.
He handed me a DVD case he was interested in, out of nowhere, and said “what does this say”, pointing at the blurb at the back. Took a sec but I realized the lad couldn’t read.
Anyway, without judgment I read it and proceeded to walk the floor with him, reading the DVD cases he was visually interested in. I think the dude appreciated me not judging him or anything, as he was a regular and this was the first time he approached a member of staff. For months, I would do this for him and we built a great relationship chatting about movies and shit.
Anyway, fast forward the clock a few months. Some little shits come in while I’m on a shift causing hassle. They were like 15 or so, but they were trying to steal, were abusive and intimidating etc.
Then, the same lad who I helped (who to be fair, was an absolute unit of a man), walks into the shop and sees what’s going on. To the shock of those little shits (who he knew), he basically rang their necks and fucked them out of the shop, told them he’d batter them if he ever saw them causing hassle and apologized to me for their behavior.
Oddly enough, a week before the fire, I was in Leisureplex in Stillorgan playing pool with a mate of mine and the dude was just 2 tables away from us. We gave each other a nod and said nothing more.
One week later to the day, the same lad, Thomas Connors, passed away in the fire, pictured to the right beside his wife.
RIP
Tragic loss of life, I remember this story when it happened. RIP
Morbid that two worst disasters in Ireland in recent times happened around the same time in October
May they rest in peace.
Heart breaking. I can’t believe it was 7 years ago.
An unborn child? why even mention it?
I was in NUIG recently to see the play about this tragedy called “Ireland sheds a tear?”. Powerful piece about this community and how they’re ostracized. Ironically, there was not a single college student there apart from some young ones that came in 40 minutes (!!!) late, basically invading the stage due to the layout of the venue, midst a monologue (and which I’m pretty sure only joined because the sandwiches at the entrance were to only be served after the play). Meanwhile the student bar was blasting David Guetta. Truly depressing but for me it kind of reflected Irelands attitude towards this conflict.
My son played for wayside around that time, and going by the site after was heartbreaking. So so tragic
I lived in Stepaside at the time. I remember the devastation at the location as I drove by it in the days after. An horrendous event to befall those who lost their lives and their extended families and friends..RIP.
It was very tragic , always a lesson not to get yourself polluted on drink and benzos and try make chips. It certainly doesnt help if your illegal electricity connection has no main fuse to cut off when the fire starts either.
And before anyone starts :
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0121/1024564-carrickmines-inquest/
Grew up with Thomas before he and his family were moved to the halting site. Absolute gentleman and would do anything for my family and I. I was actually in the site with him and his family around two weeks before the fire which is surreal to think about.
Still remember hearing the news and having this feeling in the pit of my stomach knowing he was involved in this. Broke my heart that day and I find myself thinking of him every once in a while.
RIP to the family, and to a good friend. Always in my heart