Hit-and-run deaths ‘shocked the nation’

THE tragic death of two Irish women in a hit-and-run accident in Rome last week had touched the entire country, mourners at a funeral mass for one of the victims heard yesterday.

Sympathisers gathered at St Michael’s Church in Athy for the requiem mass of Mary Clare Collins — the 29-year-old graduate who was one of two friends killed as they returned home from a night out to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Rome.

The pair were struck by a car driven by Friedrich Vernarelli, 32.

Vernarelli, the son of a retired Italian police chief, was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter, drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

The congregation heard local priest, Fr Dan Dunne, describe the great sorrow, sadness and sense of loss felt by all who knew Mary — the eldest of a family of three from the nearby townland of Ballintubbert.

At the start of the mass, several of Mary’s friends brought gifts to symbolise her interests to the altar. They included a CD of a live recording made recently with her friends and a copy of her thesis for UCD where she studied for a master’s degree in science.

“Mary loved to travel and hoped to travel to many more places,” said Fr Dunne.

The chief mourners were Mary’s parents, Kevin and Patricia Collins, her brother, Christopher and sister, Niamh.

Mr Collins and his son returned to Ireland last Friday after travelling to Rome to make arrangements to bring her body home.

Fr Dunne said the ultimate fear of every parent visited the door of Mary’s father and mother last Tuesday when they were informed their daughter had been killed in Rome.

“The devastation and utter horror of Mary’s death and also the death of her great friend, Elizabeth Gubbins in Rome last Tuesday has shocked and dumbfounded the community of Ballintubbert and also the greater Athy area and indeed the country at large,” said Fr Dunne.

He told the church one could only imagine the suffering and pain felt by Mary’s family on learning of her tragic death.

The congregation heard Mary was a quiet girl who was nonetheless “brave and determined” and who worked hard and achieved a lot.

Fr Dunne said the Collins family were particularly grateful for the many happy years she had spent in UCD where she made many friends who had brought happiness into her life.

Two other female friends who were on holidays with Mary and Elizabeth in Rome last week wiped away tears as they brought the offertory gifts to the altar.

After the church, Mary’s coffin was brought for burial to Ballintubbert Cemetery, a short distance from her family home.

Prayers were also said during the mass for Ms Gubbins, 27, from Lisnagry, Co Limerick who was also killed in the accident in the Italian capital.

Her funeral mass takes place today at Castleconnell Church in Limerick at 11.30am.