Archive notice

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Sunday 11 March 2012

Christopher McManus, R.I.P.

Chris McManus, R.I.P.
The community of Drum is in shock this weekend having learned of the tragic death of Christopher McManus in Nigeria. Christopher's grandfather William was a native of Ardnanure, Drum. Christopher, a 28 year-old quantity surveyor from Oldham, Greater Manchester, had been working as a contract worker on a construction project in northern Nigeria when he and an Italian colleague were captured in May 2011 and held hostage until their death this week during a failed rescue attempt.

Christopher's grandfather Dr. William McManus was born in Ardnaure to parents Edmond and Anne, and William was recorded as being three months old in the 1911 Census. Both he and his eldest brother Edward studied medicine at University College Galway having previously attended Drumpark National School and the Marist Brothers' School in Athlone. Edward worked as a doctor in Brideswell and later in Roscommon, while William and his wife Josie Gilleran of The Walk, Roscommon moved to England where he worked in private practice in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Their son Michael is Christopher's father.

William always maintained a keen interest in his native county, and the family have many relatives in Drum, including the O'Connell family of Glendeer Farm. William McManus' sister Margaret was married to Michael John O'Connell of Kilmacormack.

We offer our sincere sympathy to Christopher's family and relations.

May he rest in peace.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The case has been the subject of much international media coverage in recent days:
RTÉ News - Italian, UK hostages killed in Nigeria raid (8 March 2012)
BBC News - Nigeria rescue bid: Kidnapped Briton and Italian killed (8 March 2012)
The Telegraph - British hostage killed in failed SBS rescue bid (8 March 2012)
The Guardian - British and Italian hostages killed in Nigeria (8 March 2012)