The world of Irish motor sport was in shock last night following news that Bertie Fisher had been critically injured in a private helicopter crash which claimed the life of his son, Mark, and a daughter, Emma.

Fisher's wife, Gladys, and another son were also injured when their helicopter crashed in Fermanagh while returning home from the west yesterday.

Fisher holds the all time record of Irish International rally wins, beating the records held by Billy Coleman and Jimmy McRae. He won his first of four Tarmac Championships in 1990 in a BMW M3; in 1992 and '93 he drove a Subaru Legacy RS, and in 1996 he was at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza.

He is managing director of Fisher Engineering Ltd, of Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, and has cut back on rallying in the last two years to concentrate on his successful business. But he had planned a limited programme of events this year, including the Circuit of Ireland at Easter which will be based in the Enniskillen area.

Bertie's son Mark (27), was one of the brightest young Irish rally stars, with a number of outstanding UK and Irish performances which included winning Group N in the Tarmac Championship. He had planned a major challenge on the Super Cup category of this year's British Rally Championship as well as selected Tarmac championship rounds.

Bertie Fisher is renowned for his great battles with Austin McHale and others, yet also for being very professional and sporting. He has always been one of the pacesetters on the stages, sometimes pushing himself too hard, which cost him a number of rally wins.

For all of that, his list of wins is very impressive to say the least, and includes the Circuit of Ireland, and a record six wins on his favourite event, the Killarney Rally of The Lakes.