Two men killed in Offaly plane crash named

Two men killed as a result of a plane crash shortly after take-off from Birr Airfield yesterday (Sunday, November 11) have been officially named as Niall Doherty of Ballinakill, Roscrea and Damien Deegan of Military Road, Crinkle. The tragic accident occurred yesterday afternoon. Gardaí were notified at approximately 4.50pm that all contact had been lost between Air Traffic Control and the Cessna light training aircraft. A search commenced and with assistance from Garda Air Support and other emergency services the plane wreckage was found at approximately 6.30pm at Clonkelly Upper, Birr. The two men on board, aged in their 20s and 30s, were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies were removed to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.