Victims of Co Tipperary crash named by Gardai as survivors treated in hospital
Stewart Robson reports.
The victims of a car crash in Co Tipperary have been named by Gardai.
Thomas O'Reilly, 45, Bridget O'Reilly, 46, and their grandson Tom O'Reilly, aged three, died after the car they were travelling in struck a wall near Cashel.
The driver of the car and the front seat passenger, a man and a woman both aged in their 20s, are understood to be the parents of the boy.
The single-vehicle collision occurred shortly before 9pm on Tuesday when a car hit a wall in the Windmill-Knockbulloge area of Cashel.
The bodies the grandparents and the little boy were taken to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel.
The younger couple continue to receive treatment in Tipperary University Hospital.
The man is being treated for more serious injuries than the woman.
The road in the Windmill-Knockbulloge area remains closed to traffic, and Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are attended Wednesday morning to conduct an examination.
An incident room has been established at Cahir Garda Station and an investigation has commenced under a Senior Investigating Officer as An Garda Síochána investigate all the circumstances of this tragic road traffic collision.
Local councillor Declan Burgess expressed his sympathies to the family, who he said were “well known” in the area, and thanked first responders who attended the scene.
He also thanked local residents near the crash who were at the scene on Tuesday night. “Particularly following the tragedy in Clonmel, it’s awful news,” he told PA.
“Our community is struck by another blow, it’s a very upsetting situation, especially with a child involved.
“On behalf of the town, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families affected, Cashel is still trying to cope with this.
“Our thoughts are also with the two people who are still in hospital.
“I want to thank the brilliant first responders who attended the scene, and to thank the residents of the Windmill-Knockbulloge area who were first on the scene.”
Local councillor Roger Kennedy described it as a “terribly sad situation”.
“My sympathies to the family involved,” he said, adding it was tragic “to lose three of the same family”.
“They are a large extended family, they have great support here and there will be great support for them from the community.”
The road remains closed on Wednesday morning and is not expected to reopen for some time. Local diversions are in place.
An incident room has been established at Cahir Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation.
Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to contact the investigation team.
Any road users who may have camera or dash-cam footage and were travelling in the Windmill Knockbulloge area near Cashel between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Tuesday are asked to make it available to Gardai.
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