Tragic death of Limerick nurse has ‘cast a huge shadow over the community’

A NUMBER of Limerick councillors have paid tribute to a local nurse who was tragically killed in a road collision on Friday night.

Áine O’Reilly, aged 33, of Pallasgreen was killed while travelling to work at ShannonDoc. The three-vehicle collision took place just a few miles from her home, on the N24 near Grange Cross.

At the February meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District, Cathaoirleach Gregory Conway described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”.

Cllr Conway offered his condolences to the victim’s parents and two brothers. He also wished a speedy recovery to the man who was hospitalised as a result of the collision.

A minute’s silence was subsequently held, before a number of other councillors paid their respects.

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Fine Gael councillor Noreen Stokes, who is a neighbour of the family, said Ms O’Reilly was a “lovely, quiet young lady”.

She said she has known the family all her life and the tragedy has cast a “huge shadow over the community”.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil councillor Martin Ryan said he knew Ms O’Reilly’s father, Eugene, through his work as a community garda.

He also acknowledged her mother Ann’s former job as a teacher, saying the family is “steeped in looking after other people”.

Cllr Ryan added that the tragedy “will be very hard to get over” for the community. He gave credit to the emergency services for their quick response time and professionalism in dealing with the tragic incident.

He also commended an American couple who were passing by at the time of the incident and were some of the first people on the scene.

A section of the Limerick to Waterford N24 road was closed for an extensive technical examination following the three vehicle collision.

The sole occupant of the second car, a male driver aged in his 40s, was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life threatening.

A garda spokesperson said the driver of the third car “fled, leaving the vehicle they were driving at the scene”.

Gardaí issued an update on the investigation on Sunday, saying they are “following a definite line of inquiry”.

Ms O’Reilly’s funeral Mass is taking place in St John the Baptist Church, Nicker this Wednesday morning at 11:30am, with burial afterwards in St Columba’s Cemetery. May she rest in peace.