Architect recovering after London bombings
Architect William Walshe was tonight recovering from burns and lacerations after being caught up in the terrorist bomb attacks in London.
His mother, Barbara Walshe, flew in from her home in Galway, Ireland, to be at his bedside today as he underwent surgery at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.
She said: “Thankfully we knew from the beginning his injuries weren’t life threatening but he has a burnt hand, a burnt leg and lacerations to his face.”
William, 24, had left his shared home near Liverpool St station to catch the Circle Line to Sloane Square where he worked when he was caught in the blast.
His mum said: “He was going towards Aldgate when the carriage blew up. He says he was in a carriage where seven people were killed and although he can’t remember much, he said someone broke the windows and they crawled out and staggered along the line towards Aldgate station.
“He said there was screaming, people crying, people praying and the smell of burning. He described not being able to breathe and only being able to breathe smoke, it was very frightening.”
William moved to London from Galway six years ago and has an older brother, Gary, 29, and three sisters, Janice, 31, Barbara, 26, and Claire, 19.
His mother said: “We feel very lucky that he is alive. There are people tonight who have lost limbs or even their lives.
“He is just coming round and is complaining that he has lost his iPod and the 3,000 tunes on it so he can’t be too bad.”
Meanwhile, concerns were growing tonight for an Irish person who may have been caught up in the attacks.
The Government confirmed the family of one Irish passport holder had been unable to contact him since the blasts.
The news emerged after Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said he was seriously concerned for an Irish citizen who has been living in the UK for some time.
The minister said his department had been unable to locate the person whom, it is believed, may have lived elsewhere before moving to the UK.
As Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said al-Qaida suspects were under surveillance in Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was concerned that Irish citizens may have been caught up in the London blasts.
“There are one or two Irish people about whom there are concerns and the Embassy in London is following up these cases with the Metropolitan Police,” a spokesman said.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy are working closely to ensure that families have access to all the support and assistance they need.”
The spokesman said the Embassy was working with the Central Casualty Bureau in London which brings together all of the emergency services, including the London Metropolitan Police Service and the Foreign Office.
“The helplines in Dublin and London remain open and anyone who has already been in touch with either office and has since had news of their friend or relative is invited to call either number again so that they can be eliminated from our inquiries,” he added.
As the hunt for information about any Irish casualties continued, Bertie Ahern said gardaí were monitoring al-Qaida sympathisers in Ireland as part of a massive international security operation.
Mr Ahern said he did not believe Ireland was under serious threat of attack but he admitted security services were closely monitoring certain people in the Republic.
“We take that very seriously, the gardai work very very closely with international security and we do watch certain individuals very very closely,” he said.
“There are people living in the Republic of Ireland that we have to attach huge importance to and we do.
“This week underlines that and we do that as part of international co-operation.”
The Taoiseach also said he did not believe allowing US troops to use Shannon International Airport had left the country exposed to a greater risk of terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Ireland has been overwhelmed with messages of sympathy following the terrorist bombings.
British Ambassador Stewart Eldon said the kind thoughts and sentiments of the Irish people were very much appreciated at this time.
A book of condolences has been opened at the embassy on the Merrion Road to allow others to express their feelings in the wake of the attacks that have left more than 50 people dead.
Mr Eldon said the compassion of Irish people had eased the shock caused by the tragedy.
“We have been overwhelmed by the volume of calls and messages from people in Ireland expressing their sympathy and shock following the dreadful events in London yesterday, and who have joined with us in expressing their profound condolences to those affected,” he said.
“This has been a most terrible tragedy that has cost many lives.
“The kind thoughts and sentiments of the Irish people are very much appreciated at this sad time.”
President Mary McAleese, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, and a host of politicians, including Enda Kenny, the leader of main opposition party Fine Gael, signed the book of condolences.
The book of condolences was open to members of the public at the British Embassy on Merrion Road, south Dublin, between 11am and 4pm today and between 10.30am and 4pm on Monday July 11 and Tuesday July 12.
The helplines for relatives who are concerned about loved ones can be contacted on Dublin 1 800 242 548 or the Irish Embassy in London on 00 44 207 201 2501 or 00 44 207 201 2508.
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