Quin geologist dies in Congolese air disaster

THE family of Quin man James Cassley, who died tragically in a plane crash in the Congo, has travelled to the region this week to bring his body home. He was due to celebrate his 31st birthday on Tuesday next.

A married man, he was the only son of Hector and Mona Cassley, who operate the Quin Meats business in Clare. The family had moved from Ballymena, County Antrim to Quin in 1985. Mr Cassley moved to England some time after graduating from Queen’s University in Belfast.
He qualified as a geologist and worked with a Canadian bank in London for the last number of years and was on a business trip in South Africa with investors. It is understood that he was due to evaluate a mine in the Congo as a possible investment opportunity.
The plane on which Mr Cassley was travelling was chartered by an Australian mining company, Sundance Resources and was travelling from Yaounde to Yangadou in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There were 11 people on board the plane, among them Australian mining tycoon Ken Talbot, whose fortune is estimated short of $1billion AUD.
Contact was lost with the plane on Saturday and the wreckage was located on Monday night. There were no survivors.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Sean Cassley, an uncle of the deceased man, who is living in Ennis, said his nephew was “a qualified geologist with a speciality in mining. He was working for a Canadian bank in London. He was going to a mine that these people were going to invest in. The mine was located in the Congo. They had a meeting with the Cameroon Government and they were going on to the mine then,” he explained.
“He was a real gentleman,” Mr Cassley said.
Sean’s partner, Susan, said, “James was going to be 31 on Tuesday. He was married to Hong and they were married for three years and celebrating their third wedding anniversary this year. I’ve known him for the last 15 years,” she said.
“It is just an awful tragedy, what can you do? He was a pure gentleman, the kindest young man. Just because he had a good job, he wouldn’t snub you or anything. He was a very hard worker. He was highly regarded in Quin and especially Hector and Mona,” she continued.
Details are unclear regarding the funeral arrangements but Fr Michael McInerney in Quin parish said there will be a special mass said for Mr Cassley when the family returns.
Tributes were paid to Mr Cassley this week from members of the community in Quin. Local county councillor Sonny Scanlan, who knew the family, said, “He was a bright young man. The community of Quin was devastated and shocked to hear of this tragic death.