Holiday hit-and-run victims' bodies to return home

THE remains of an Irish couple killed in a hit-and-run accident while on an anniversary holiday in Spain are due home within days.

Spanish officials were completing documentation yesterday which will permit the release the bodies to the family of Mattie O'Sullivan, 49, and his wife, Margaret, 48, from Newtown, Bantry, Co Cork.

Mr O'Sullivan's brother, Finbarr, and his wife, Kathleen, who were holidaying with the couple, are expected to accompany their bodies home, possibly on Wednesday.

Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan, who ran the popular Parkview B&B in Bantry, were struck by a car in Majorca on Tuesday evening.

They were enjoying a holiday given to them by their children Kieran, Claire and Susan to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Horrific details emerged yesterday of the couples' final moments.

Longford honeymoon couple Owen and Sinéad Kilemade witnessed the accident at around 1am on Avenida Santa Ponsa.

The O'Sullivan's were walking behind the newlyweds.

"We had been to an Irish bar. The couple from Cork were staying at the same accommodation as us. The bar was about 15 minutes walk away," Mr Kilemade said.

Sources said Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan were on a pedestrian crossing. The speed limit on Avenida Santa Ponsa is 35km per hour.

"It was absolutely dreadful," Mr Kilemade said. "This car came at speed and just ran them down. Their bodies were thrown in the air. I'll never forget it."

The female driver braked and stopped for a moment after the impact.

Mrs O'Sullivan was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr O'Sullivan died from his injuries in hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Kilemade said he saw the driver put her hands to her face before driving off.

He ran after the car, noted its registration number and ran into a bar and told staff to call police.

They found a blue Lancia car later in the grounds of a church. It had extensive damage to the bonnet and windscreen on the passenger side.

A 27-year-old English woman, Josephine Wallis, who has been living on the island for a number of years, was arrested shortly afterwards.

She was still being held by Spanish police last night and is due to appear before an investigating judge within days who will decide what charges she should face under Spanish law.

Police said she is likely to be charged with dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.