The body of the mineworker killed in an underground rock fall on Thursday (4th April) in the Lisheen Mine, Co. Tipperary, has been repatriated to his native Philippines.
The body of Mario Francis (49) began its journey home to the Philippines on a flight from Dublin airport this morning (Thursday, 11th April).
The body’s repatriation followed a memorial mass on Wednesday morning in the Church Of The Assumption, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny, which was attended by several hundred of Mario’s friends, neighbours and work colleagues along with many members of Ireland’s Filipino community. Construction Sector Organiser Martin Meere and Organiser, John Regan, represented SIPTU at the mass.
The memorial mass was delivered in English and Filipino.
SIPTU members at the Lisheen Mine have expressed their sympathy to Mario’s wife My-Ann, their sons Jomar (9) and Jolrem (5,) and his children from a previous marriage in the Philippines, Julemar (22) and Mario Jnr (15).
Mario, who worked at the lead and zinc mine for over 12 years and lived in nearby Urlingford, died when rocks fell on the loader vehicle he was driving in a section of tunnel.
SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: “Mario’s death has left his work colleagues in shock and underlines the dangerous nature of work underground. On behalf of SIPTU members in the Mining Sector and the wider trade union movement I would like to express sympathy to Mario’s wife and children.
“Mario and his family came from the Philippines to make a new life in Ireland. In these tragic circumstances, Mario’s family will be offered all the support possible by his SIPTU colleagues and the wider trade union community.”