Final Listowel crash victim laid to rest

EVERY strand of Tommy Murphy’s short life was represented at the crash victim’s funeral yesterday in west Limerick.

The 32-year-old was the last to be buried of three best friends who were killed instantly when their hackney cab crashed as they returned to Newcastle West from the Listowel races on Sunday night.

Yesterday Tommy’s younger brother Mike, 29, sat with his family at the front of the country church in Carrigkerry – he had escaped from the horrific crash with just a broken arm.

The two brothers had worked side by side at Pallas Foods in Newcastle West and yesterday their co-worker Jim Halligan paid homage to Tommy.

“He was always in the greatest of form and brought out the best in people. Tom you will be sorely missed by all your friends at Pallas Foods and indeed by everyone who knew you.”

The eldest of seven children from the nearby townland of Rooskagh, Tommy had worked at the food plant for seven years and this week flags outside the factory flew at half mast as a mark of respect.

He perished along with his best pals Richie Furey, 37, and Tommy Holmes, 32, who were buried in Newcastle West and nearby Fennagh on Tuesday.

Yesterday Fr Laurence Madden told mourners at St Mary’s Church that people were still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. “There is a deep sense of sadness and shock in our community as a result of this accident,” he said. “Three young people, good friends, to be taken from us so suddenly – none of us are indestructible.”

The church was packed to capacity and mourners afterwards made the trip to the Old Cemetery in Templeglantine where Tommy was laid to rest. Local Fine Gael councillor Jerome Scanlon said the West Limerick town was still in shock following the crash.

“The sense of sadness here is unbelievable. This is the worst tragedy to hit the community in 50 years. Not since five members of the same family drowned in 1963 have we had an accident on this scale.”

Mr Scanlon called for urgent action to improve the road where the crash occurred at Garryduff, near Barna Gap on the N21 road to Tralee. “There have been eight deaths in four years on the same stretch of road. It can’t cope with the volumes of traffic. This is an issue for the National Roads Authority and there are questions that need to be answered.”