Greysteel couple have lucky escape following Barcelona terror attack

by Caoimhe Hegarty

A County Derry couple, who were holidaying in Barcelona last week when terrorists launched an attack, were just a ‘minutes’ from being killed. 

Shari and Danny Butcher from Greysteel are thankfully now safely back home, however the harrowing events which they witnessed during their trip, will remain with them for some time.

The husband and wife had spent last Thursday afternoon, like many holidaymakers, taking in the sights of the Spanish city and buying souvenirs for their loved ones in the popular tourist area of Las Ramblas. They had just sat down to order a drink at a local restaurant when they heard a loud bang.

Just a short distance away, a van had ploughed into a crowd, killing 13.

Recalling the horror, mother-of-three Shari said: “We were going to stop at a café on Las Ramblas but instead crossed the street, the same street the terrorist’s van sped into seconds later. We sat down outside another bar for a drink. Then we heard a loud bang.  I knew it wasn’t a bomb. It sounded like a head-on collision.  My husband saw the first few causalities lying on the road at the end of Las Ramblas and thought it was a car accident.

“All I could think of was the London attack and the men with the knives. I thought these people running and screaming have seen someone, maybe someone killing someone with knives. I panicked and I ran down the street. Everyone was panicking.

“The police were running to the scene and blowing whistles, they were forcing the traffic to move faster, they were screaming, there were ambulances. People were being trampled over. I fell and lost my shoe.  I ran to our hotel room and slammed the door behind me.

“Our hotel was right beside Las Ramblas. I switched off the lights and just sat in the dark,” she said.

Mrs Butcher said that right up to the attack, there were a lot of young children and families in the area.

“Walking down Las Ramblas just before the attack, there were so many families, young children, babies in prams, kids holding their mummy and daddy’s hands. It’s just unthinkable. That makes me so sad,” said Mrs Butcher.

She continued: “You don’t expect this on holidays at all. We were literally walking up that street, the same as those people who were killed.

“My dad passed away last year and I think he was looking after us.  It’s horrific to think on. It was as simple as that- minutes, a split decision.  If we had have sat down at the first bar, if we had decided to stay around the shops a little more, that would have changed everything,” said Shari. 

Meanwhile, local SDLP councillor Martin Kearney and his wife, faced an agonising wait to hear news of their son, Eoghan, his wife Kathy and their three year-old son, Rory, who came close to the attack in Las Ramblas and then later, the attack in Cambrils, in which one woman died.

The young family had arrived in Spain last Wednesday for a week-long holiday. They had visited Barcelona on Thursday afternoon but had decided to return back to their holiday resort in the town of Cambrils early, narrowly missing the first attack.

Later that evening the couple had been out in the town but retired back home before the second atrocity occurred.

“It was a matter of some concern for us back at home. We were eagerly awaiting news from quite early on Friday morning,” said Mr Kearney.

He continued: “Thankfully they were all safe and well. After the attacks, they had been directed not to leave their apartment for 24 hours. I have been speaking to them a few times since then and they are well settled.  I have to praise the local community in Cambrils, after the attack, they were very quick to come and check on them.”