Student fighting for life in hospital
Michelle O’Donnell, a 21-year-old third-year arts student, remained in a critical condition at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.
Her parents, John and Nora, were at her bedside, having travelled on a lifeboat from their Inis Mor home on the Aran Islands on Tuesday night to be at her bedside.
Mr O’Donnell is the coxswain on the lifeboat based in the island and was involved in many rescue efforts over the years.
Michelle, who is hoping to graduate with a BA in Irish and translation studies, sustained severe chest and head injuries in the head-on collision at Carrownurlaur, not far from the village of Ballindine.
The eldest of four, Michelle was also the eldest of the five friends who had been returning from a shopping trip to Sligo when the accident happened.
Just a few weeks ago the friends had all travelled to Michelle’s home at Kilronan on Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands, to celebrate her 21st birthday.
Kilconly parish priest Fr Michael Kenny said that he received a call from the gardaí asking him to go to the scene of the accident at about 8pm.
“I will never forget the scene. It was one of devastation. Three of the young women were dead in the car and two had been taken to hospital along with the driver of the truck. I administered the Last Rites to the three of them. It was shocking and my thoughts and prayers are with all of their families.”
The four students who lost their lives were:
* Marie Stephanie Conneely, 19, was from Baile na hAbhann, in Connemara. A daughter of Noel and Noirin, she was in third year doing BA Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies).
* Teresa Molloy, 19, from Leitir Mor in Connemara. A daughter of Pat and Kathleen, she was a third year student of the BA Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies).
* Sarah Byrne, 20, from Headford, was a third year BA Gaeilge and Geography student.
A daughter of Tom and Tina, she is also survived by one brother.
* Sorcha Rose McLoughlin, 19, from Mulgannon, Co Wexford, also lost her life. She was a second year BA Geography and Applied Math Science and Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (Irish Diploma) student.
The driver of the pick-up truck was yesterday discharged from hospital and was recovering from his ordeal at his home in Ballindine.
Pat Kelly, 42, a married man with two young children, was returning to his home in Ballindine at about 7.30pm when the accident happened.
Firemen later cut him from the wreckage and he was taken to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. He was not seriously injured.
