Emyvale man dies in New Zealand earthquake

25 February 2011 No Comments by The Northern Standard

The north Monaghan man who was tragically killed in the earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand on Tuesday has been named as 40-year-old Owen McKenna, who was originally from Brackagh, Emyvale.
Mr McKenna, who was a general nurse and worked as manager of the accident and emergency department at the city’s main hospital, had moved to New Zealand in 2002. He was married to local woman Sarah Lothian, and they had two young children, Grace, aged 7 and Tadhg (4) .
According to reports, the Monaghan man’s car was crushed by falling debris during the magnitude 6.3 earthquake, the epicentre of which was six miles to the south of Christchurch, the southern island’s main city. The death toll was reported at 75 as we went to print yesterday (Wednesday) evening.
Mr McKenna is the son of Teresa McKenna, and has a wider family circle still living in the Emyvale area, to whom sympathy is extended. He had moved to New Zealand after meeting Sarah while they were training as nurses in London.

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