'Hero' pilot had Cavan connections
The tragic death of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick who lost her life after Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 116 crashed off the coast of Mayo last week has been felt far and wide, not least in Cavan and surrounding areas where she had family connections.
Capt Fitzpatrick (45) died with colleagues Mark Duffy, Ciarán Smith and Paul Ormsby, when their Sikorsky helicopter, which was on a support rescue mission, was lost at sea near Belmullet.
She was the grand niece of the late Thomas J. 'Tom' Fitzpatrick, who was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for the Cavan constituency at the 1965 general election.
Mr Fitzpatrick served in Governments under Liam Cosgrave and Garret FitzGerald during which time he held positions as Minister for Lands and later as Ceann Comhairle up until he retired from politics in 1989.
Capt Fitzpatrick is also a relative of Barrister Tom Fitzpatrick, who serves on the Northern Circuit Court, which covers counties Cavan and Monaghan, and has family connections to the Tullyvin, Cootehill, Cavan Town areas, as well as in Co Monaghan.
She is survived by Fionn, who she adopted three years ago after he had lost his birth mother, as well as her parents, John and Mary Fitzpatrick, her sisters Niamh, Orla and Emer, and brother Johnny.
Capt Fitzpatrick was predeceased, 39 years to the day, by a sister, Anna, who died at birth.
A minute’s silence was held before the start of the Ireland-England rugby match at the Aviva stadium last Saturday afternoon for Capt Fitzpatrick and her three missing colleagues.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Patrick's Church, Glencullen, Co Dublin at the weekend where the funeral cortège was met by an honour guard from the Coast Guard and other rescue services.
President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Transport Shane Ross were all in attendance, as well as Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Wonderful
Fr Andrew O’ Sullivan told mourners in his homily: 'Over the last few days many stories have been told about Dara and how she was a wonderful colleague and friend and indeed of the incredible professionalism and bravery of those in the Coast Guard and in our emergency services. How these extraordinary people put their own lives at risk in order to save others — what bravery. And they truly are heroes.'
Cavan Senator Joe O'Reilly (FG) paid tribute to 'hero' Captain Fitzpatrick and extended his sympathy to her bereaved family at this difficult time.