Two Derry women on a Christmas shopping trip to Glasgow were due to visit The Clutha bar on the night a helicopter crashed on to its roof, killing eight and injuring dozens more.
Julie Mooney and her aunt, Debbie Maxwell, are staying in the Holiday Inn Express directly opposite the pub on Stockwell Street on the banks of the River Clyde.
They had intended to visit the bar on the night of the crash but had fallen asleep
The hotel is within the area cordoned off by police and where floral tributes are being laid for those killed.
Emergency services are still working to recover bodies from the wreckage and while Julie and Debbie, from the Rosemount area of Derry, are allowed to come and go they must produce evidence they are residents of the hotel.
Around 120 people were in the pub being entertained by nine-piece Glasgow ska band Esperanza when the police helicopter crashed into its roof at 10.25pm on Friday last.
At least eight people – including the civilian pilot and two police officers – were killed. Fourteen of the 32 people injured remain in hospital, a number of them in a critical condition.
Speaking to Derry Daily, Julie revealed they had intended to visit the pub on the night of the crash
Julie said: “We arrived on Friday and after booking in, we headed out almost straight away. As the pub was directly opposite our hotel we decided we would call in when we returned as we had been told it was a ‘great wee bar’ and that it is ‘always buzzing.’
“But we had an early start that morning and were really tired so when we came back we threw our bags and ourselves on top of the beds and fell asleep.
“We were woken after half ten by all the commotion and looked out the window and saw loads of fire engines and ambulances. We did not know at that stage what had happened but when we found out later we feel really lucky.
“At the time we did not think much about it but now that it has sunk in – if we had not fallen asleep we would have been in the pub.
“It is totally wrecked and it is a miracle anyone has got out alive.”
Julie concluded: “It is hitting people here really hard now that what has happened is beginning to sink in.”
The two women are due back home tomorrow.
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