Mother’s disbelief at death of sons

THE distraught mother of two brothers killed in a horror crash outside Killarney, Co Kerry, shortly after 7am yesterday, said she could not believe they were gone.

Sheila Breen, who lost sons, David, 17, and Kevin, 15, in the single vehicle accident was being comforted by family and friends at home at Hazelwood Drive, Ballyspillane, Killarney.

“I’m going to miss the boys. I can’t believe they are gone,” she said.

They were among four teenagers to die in the crash. David’s girlfriend, Áine O’Riordan, 15, of St John’s Park, Castleisland, and another friend, Brian Coffey, 19, of Crohane, Killarney, wee also killed.

All except Brian Coffey, who died some hours later at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, were pronounced dead at the scene, at Carrigeen, about 6km from Killarney, on the road to Mallow.

A fifth person in the car, Darragh Jones, 16, from Farranfore, Co Kerry, is a stable condition at Kerry General Hospital, according to the HSE.

Sheila Breen and her husband, Denis, found it difficult to speak about the accident which they first heard of when Killarney gardaí called to their home with the tragic news of their sons’ deaths.

“Their (sons’) friends called for them last night. They were very happy and in great form as they headed off. I don’t think they even said goodbye,” said Ms Breen.

“Áine was David’s girlfriend. They had been going out together for almost two years. They were together a lot and got on very well.

“She was a lovely girl and I really liked her. I can’t believe they are all gone.”

Ms Breen said that David was in a Youthreach programme run by the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, in Killarney, while Kevin was due to go into third year in St Brendan’s College, Killarney.

Denis Breen formerly worked as a caretaker in the college.

Ms Breen said David used to play with Killarney Celtic soccer club while Kevin played football with Spa GAA club, also in Killarney.

The brothers were in a family of six and are survived by siblings Michael, 21, Denis, 19, Mary, 11, and Bill, 3.

A constant stream of people, also including clergy, politicians and relatives, called to the Breen home during the day, many sobbing and embracing family members.

People, especially young friends of the deceased, in the neighbourhood were visibly stunned and wept as they comforted each other.

Women arrived with trays of food with everybody trying to help as much as possible.

Áine O’Riordan is the daughter of Castleisland couple, Dan and Mary O’Riordan.

Áine’s best friend Michelle O’Sullivan said David and Aine were “mad about each other”.

“I think they would have preferred to have died together. Áine was in secondary school in Castleisland and was going to go to the Debs in October with David. They were really excited and we were going to Clonmel to get the dresses next week.

“She was a great girl, my best friend and I don’t know what I am going to do without her.”

Brian Coffey is also being mourned by his parents, Michael Clifford and Siobhan Coffey, and other family members, of Crohane, Fossa, Killarney.

Brian attended Milltown Secondary School and also interested in sport, playing under-16 football with Fossa GAA club and also rowed with Fossa rowing club.

Crash toll

THE crash in Co Kerry is the latest in a long line of road accidents to destroy young lives and families:

* Eight men were killed in Inishowen in July in one of the worst road crashes in the history of the state. Seven of the dead were young friends returning home from watching the World Cup final when their car clipped another vehicle near Buncrana before ploughing head-on into another. A 66-year-old man who was driving the third car also died.

* Five schoolgirls aged 15 to 18 died when their bus overturned at the Kentstown Road near Navan, Co Meath, in May 2005. Forty-six other teenagers and the driver were also injured.

* In October 2005, three men and two women were killed in Co Donegal when their Peugeot collided with a drunk driver. Derry man Brendan Henderson was travelling on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred at Quigley’s Point near Moville. He was jailed for four years in May 2009.

* Tragedy struck Inishowen again in February 2006 when five people from eastern Europe were killed in another two-car collision near Buncrana. Four of the five were Latvians, while the fifth victim was a Lithuanian. The driver of one of the vehicles, 23-year-old Danielius Abartis had been over the legal alcohol limit.

* Last November, four young women were killed in a car crash after shopping in Co Galway. Students Marie Ni Chonghaile and Teresa Molloy died alongside college friends Sarah Byrne and Sorcha Rose McLoughlin after their car collided with a pick-up truck.

— Jeananne Craig