TRIBUTES PAID TO IRISH VICTIMS OF TUNISIA SHOOTINGS
People in Athlone say they have been ‘stunned into silence’ by the deaths of a couple from the town in the Tunisian beach massacre.
Larry and Martina Hayes – who were both in their 50s – were on holiday in Kantawi and are understood to have been waiting for a bus to the airport when they were caught up in the shootings.
Mr Hayes had worked for Bus Éireann for the last 20 years as a schools transport inspector.
A spokeswoman for Bus Éireann said: “The company wish to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Larry Hayes and his wife Martina.”
She said Mr Hayes was “highly regarded on both a personal and professional level” by all his colleagues at Bus Éireann.
Three Irish people are among the dozens who were killed.
Lorna Carty from Co Meath died after she went sunbathing on the beach.
The mother-of-two had gone on holiday with her husband, who was recovering from heart surgery.
Dunderry Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), where her husband Declan was treasurer and her son Simon and daughter Hazel represented at football, hurling, and camogie, paid tribute.
A statement said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Lorna Carty. Lorna was always there to give a helping hand with all of our teams and events. She was greatly loved in our community and will be dearly missed.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs is warning any citizens planning to travel to Tunisia to exercise extreme caution.
