Body of missing business owner recovered from rubble of Killarney explosion

The body of a Killarney man was removed yesterday from the wreckage of his laundrette in the town centre after a massive explosion demolished the building and damaged several others.

James Gleeson (59), Countess Road, died after a suspected gas leak explosion as he entered his premises at Brewery Lane at about 6.20am on Saturday. The massive explosion shattered plate glass windows in nearby streets, blew tiles off roofs, parts of roofs on to buildings three storeys higher and was heard up to a mile away.

Hundreds of hotel guests were evacuated and one large hotel, the International Hotel, remained closed yesterday.

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The scene at Brewery Lane, Killarney, on Saturday morning following the gas explosion. Photograph: Eamonn Keogh/MacMonagle

Brewery Lane, a busy laneway between College Square and Kenmare Place, is at the heart of tourist Killarney.

Garda Sgt Dermot O’Connell of Killarney yesterday confirmed that gardaí suspected the cause of the explosion was related to a gas leak – gas cylinders had been found.

Gardaí were satisfied that when Mr Gleeson entered his premises, perhaps turning on a light switch, the explosion occurred “simultaneously”. They understand that “when he entered the premises, the explosion occurred simultaneously and it’s believed he died instantly”, Garda Sgt O’Connell said.

An emergency plan swung into action involving the Garda, ambulance service, town council officials, civil defence and electricity an d gas engineers .

Streets were sealed off to await the arrival of health and safety inspectors. Large, heavy lifting equipment including cranes was brought in. An engineer’s inspection of the chimneys, roofs and glass on buildings on adjoining streets ordered by gardaí was under way. This was to ensure the safety of the public and was “precautionary”, Garda Sgt O’Connell said.

He paid tribute to the co-operation from the community and businesses with the emergency services yesterday.

Brewery Lane would remain closed to allow ongoing investigations by the HSA, he added.

The search for Mr Gleeson was resumed at first light yesterday. It was hoped he had gone for a cycle after opening his premises, as he sometimes did. However, after a painstaking search of the rubble, his body was discovered at 11am yesterday.

It was taken to Kerry General Hospital where a postmortem was to take place.

Married to Grace O’Neill from Kilkenny, Mr Gleeson was from a long-established Killarney family and was involved in rotary, tidy towns festival and music circles.He enjoyed travel and the theatre.

It is understood he had begun work early to be able to join his wife and son Eoin (18) later on Saturday who were visiting relatives in Kilkenny.

Killarney councillor Michael Gleeson, a first cousin, described him as pleasant and dignified, with a keen love of the national park, the outdoors and with had a range of interests.

“He was a most pleasant person, a great lover of music and concerts and he was a great family man, all three were always together.”

It had been a great consolation the body had been found and identified, Mr Gleeson said, offering his condolences to the family.

All other persons were now accounted for, gardaí said. At least three large hotels had been evacuated and three people in apartments had to be rescued. Gardaí found a very distressed woman, trapped in her upstairs flat.

They entered through the blown-out front of a supermarket to reach her. She was treated for minor injuries.

The fire service rescued two other people. Amid reports of another resident, gardaí also had to establish that two other apartments which were completely destroyed had no one in them.

The International Hotel across the narrow laneway from the laundry was catering for 170 guests and the first group for breakfast were due at 6.45am.

Manager Terence Mulcahy said the hotel sustained glass damage and it would remain closed. Mr Mulcahy described Mr Gleeson as "a gentleman of the highest calibre. Everyone is very sorry he has lost his life this way."