[ThomasJ]

By Kevin Doyle and Claire Murphy
Friday July 16 2010
THUGS who hijacked a Dublin - bound train
doused passengers ' bags in petrol in an
attempt to commit "mass murder".
A community worker was hailed a hero today
after confronting rioters who attacked the Irish
Rail train in Lurgan on July 12.
The full horror of the incident only emerged
today as Iarnrod Eireann confirmed to the
Herald that some pieces of luggage were
soaked in an attempt to burn up to 60 people
alive .
Footage showing bags being thrown off the
train initially led investigators to believe they
were being stolen.
However, it has now emerged that a
community worker risked his life to remove the
petrol - soaked bags, most of which belonged to
boy scouts.
"Some were doused and some were burned , "
explained an Irish Rail spokesperson .
"They were trying to set the driver ' s cab on fire
and they also poured petrol on to some of the
heavy bags and luggage."
Steven Moutrey DUP said ; "But for the work of
a community worker on Monday there could
have been mass murder. "
Today, a hero community worker told how he
confronted the vicious mob and tried to alert
those on board the train to the danger. The
man , identified only as John , told UTV how he
confronted a masked man as rioters were
intent on killing all 55 passengers .
"I told him that there were women and children
on the train, he said ' f them, let them burn' , "
he recalled . Having confronted the masked
man , who had a five galloon drum in his hand ,
John got into the driver' s carriage.
"I move from there through the carriage and
started to shout at the people because
somebody shouted to me that they were going
to set the train on fire . They just couldn ' t
comprehend what was going on."
Irish Rail said that an investigation is ongoing
but the spokesperson was unaware of the
community worker ' s heroic actions .
hnews@ herald.ie
- Kevin Doyle and Claire Murphy

from todays herald. very worrying ! :-(