President Michael D. Higgins visited the cathedral in Santiago de
Compostela on Monday evening to lay a floral tribute to the 79 people
killed in July’s rail disaster.
During a visit to Galicia, President Higgins met the President of the
Xunta de Galicia (Autonomous Government of the Region), Alberto Nuñez
Féijóo in Porto do Son.
After discussing the historic and close cultural ties between Ireland
and Galicia, President Higgins offered his personal condolences to
President Nuñez Féijóo on the tragic loss of life that occurred in the
recent rail disaster near Santiago de Compostela.
On Monday evening, President Higgins visited Santiago de Compostela
and met the Mayor of the city, Ángel Currás Fernández, as well as
Archbishop Julián Barrio Barrio.
Accompanied by Mayor Currás, Archbishop Barrio and the Ambassador of
Ireland to Spain, Mr Justin Harman, President Higgins visited the
cathedral in the Galician city.
There, President Higgins laid a floral tribute to the memory of those who died in the recent tragedy.
The cathedral is the destination of thousands of pilgrims who undertake the Camino of St James, including many from Ireland.
The crash was Spain’s worst rail tragedy in more than 40 years. The
derailment of up to eight carriages has been blamed on the train going
too fast.
In addition to the 79 people who died, another 22 were seriously injured.
The driver, Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, has been charged with 79
counts of homicide and numerous offences of bodily harm, all of them
committed through professional recklessness.