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Nine Irish deaths in Perth in just three weeks

Joe McDermott (left) and Gerry Bradley, who died on a building site in Australia
Joe McDermott (left) and Gerry Bradley, who died on a building site in Australia Joe McDermott (left) and Gerry Bradley, who died on a building site in Australia

AN accident on a building site which killed two young men has brought the number of Irish deaths in the Perth area of Australia to nine in just three weeks.

Communities in Counties Tyrone and Derry became the latest to be plunged into mourning following news of the deaths of Joe McDermott and Gerry Bradley.

Mr McDermott (24), from Omagh, had moved to Australia only weeks ago to begin a new life and was described as a "cheeky chappy with a zest for life".

Mr Bradley (27), from near Macosquin, had been in the country for nearly two years and his brother Gregory said the family "can't believe what has happened".

The men were on a work break at an apartment block site in Perth when a concrete slab fell on them.

Their deaths came just days after after 28-year-old Craigavon man Alan Haughey was killed in a car crash near Perth.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust confirmed on Wednesday night it would help the families of the latest victims bring their bodies home for burial.

Colin Bell said the trust has assisted following the deaths of nine Irish people in Perth in the space of just three weeks.

The area has attracted thousands of young Irish in search of work in recent years, with almost 40 different Irish groups operating in the city.

Mr Bell said just two months ago his son Eamon (26) had been working on the same site where the young men died.

The 62-year-old and his family set up the repatriation trust in memory of his son Kevin, who died in suspected hit-and-run in New York in 2013.

Since then it has helped more than 130 other families.