Owen McKenna

Owen McKenna. Photo / Supplied

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Owen Thomas McKenna, 40, is believed to have been shopping when debris fell on his car.

The father-of-two moved to New Zealand from Ireland about six years before the earthquake. His death was confirmed by police on March 6, 2011.

Owen was a psychiatric nurse and was married to a New Zealand woman.

It is understood his wife Sarah and children Grace and Tadgh were visiting family in another part of the country when the earthquake struck.

They were told Owen was missing after the hospital in which he was working contacted them to say he had not shown up for work.

Neighbours and friends gathered in Owen's home town of Monaghan to comfort his mother Theresa and his seven siblings.

Owen previously trained and worked in London and spent time in Saudi Arabia, where it is believed he met his wife.