Crash that killed two young men ‘an inferno’

A WITNESS yesterday described the scene of a fatal car crash, in which two young Kerrymen died, as an inferno.

The car, which caught fire immediately after it struck a wall, had just rounded a left-hand bend, near Lawlor’s Cross, on the N22 Tralee/Killarney road.

The deceased were named as Peter Galwey, 21, son of Peter and Breda Galwey, of Fahaduff, Castleisland, and Timothy Reidy, 19, son of Con and Margaret Reidy, of Kilcow, Castleisland.

Peter was an apprentice electrician and Timothy worked as a machinery driver.

Although dental records will have to be used to formally identify the remains of the men, it is understood a bank card found at the scene had Mr Reidy’s name and led gardaí to his home address.

His devastated parents confirmed he was the driver of the 94 KY registered, silver-coloured Vauxhall Cavalier.

It then emerged his friend Mr Galwey had not made it home either.

Their parents and siblings were being comforted by family and friends.

Mr Galwey Senior has a quarry business outside Castleisland, while Con Reidy is a truck driver with Dawn Dairies.

It is believed the Vauxhall Cavalier went out of control and crashed into a stone wall in front of a private house at Dunrine, about 6km on the Tralee side of Killarney. The occupants were returning to Castleisland from Killarney at the time.

A 6ft section of wall and two pillars were demolished by the impact and the car was extensively burnt. Stones from the wall were scattered around a lawn yesterday as Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene.

An occupant of a nearby house told of hearing an “unbelievably loud bang”, at 12.20am, and then looking out the window to see what had happened. “The whole road was like an inferno when I pulled back the curtain,” she said.

“The car appeared to have crossed the road after hitting the wall and was like a firebomb. Other people were on the road when I got there, but there was nothing anyone could do.

“It all seemed to have happened in seconds. The car just went up in flames and went into an inferno,” she said.

Sgt Ray Walsh, Killarney, said it was a horrific accident resulting in the tragic loss of two young lives.

“People are shocked by it and our deepest sympathies go to the bereaved families,” he said.

Kerry Mayor Bobby O’Connell, who lives in Castleisland, said people in the area who were only coming to terms with the number of previous fatal accidents involving young people were stunned.

“The Galweys and Reidys are regarded as great neighbours and are hard-working families involved in a lot of community activities.

“The lads who died are remembered as quiet, nice fellows,” Mr O’Connell said.

The double tragedy is the second to hit the town in as many years.

In April 2007 Fred Ryan, 31, and John ‘Pa’ O’Reilly, 27, died in a collision just outside their home town on the main Killarney to Limerick road. A teenager was also killed in the crash.

Father Michael Moynihan, parish curate, said anybody would have been proud to have the two victims as their sons, and their families were well regarded and respected.

“The community both locally and beyond is both shocked and numbed by the deaths of two young men, Peter Galwey and Tim Reidy,” said Fr Moynihan, of St Stephen and John’s Church.

“We feel very sad because two young lives with much promise and potential have been taken from us so unrepentantly.

“This is a very dark and sad time for their families, their colleagues and their friends.”

Gardaí in Killarney have issued an appeal to witnesses to the accident to contact them at 064-6631222.