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Monaghan man dies in earthquake
2011-02-23 10:19:19
23 February 2011 Last updated at 12:55 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Monaghan man Owen McKenna dead in NZ earthquake A scene of devastation following the earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday
An Irishman who died in the New Zealand earthquake was 41-year-old Owen McKenna, originally from Emyvale in County Monaghan.
He was married to a woman from NZ and had two children of primary school age. He trained as a nurse in London but moved to NZ after meeting his wife.
His car was crushed under falling debris during the quake in Christchurch on Tuesday.
His mother and wider family circle still live in the Emyvale area.
It is understood that Mr McKenna's wife was visiting her relations with their children when the earthquake struck.
A priest based in the same Monaghan parish as Mr McKenna's family said they were drawing on their great faith in a time of great difficulty.
"They still have to deal with a huge degree of uncertainty in terms of things like funeral arrangements so it is all very difficult for them," he said.
BBC NI district reporter Gordon Adair said Mr McKenna had always made clear his wish to be buried in Ireland.
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