Tourmakeady man escaped Nice terror attack

BOOK OF CONDOLENCES An Taoisaech Enda Kenny and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, TD, signing the Book of Condolences at the Tourist Office in Castlebar Town Hall after last week’s terror attack in Nice in Southern France. Pic: John Moylette


Ciara Galvin

A Tourmakeady man witnessed the terrible atrocities in Nice last week while walking home from a party with friends.
Eoin Staunton, who is working in Ma Nolan’s pub close to the Promenade des Anglais, was walking home with his girlfriend Lydia and friends when they heard screaming behind them.
Speaking to The Irish Times last week, Staunton described a crowd running towards them with the truck advancing at speed.
“It all happened so quickly. My girlfriend Lydia and I were ahead of the others. We were all spread out and we were trying to find each other. It didn’t click that it was a terrorist attack. It was just panic,” said Eoin, who completed an Arts degree from NUI Galway last year.
The group sought safety on a beach below the promenade before finding safety in a restaurant, along with 50 other people, who, along with Eoin, began trying to contact family and friends.
“We were all so lucky we got away. My friend Philip was just feet away from getting hit, it’s crazy,” said Staunton.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny signed a book of condolence at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar yesterday (Monday).
A minute’s silence was observed by the French people yesterday, for those killed when the truck drove into a crowd at the Bastille Day fireworks display.