Uncle speaks of family’s devastation

A GRIEF-stricken uncle of Miriam Reidy yesterday spoke of the family’s devastation at her death.

Tim Stackpoole, whose sister Josie is mother of the sisters, said the family was devastated.

“Miriam called to visit me on Wednesday last. She always kept in touch and we are a very close family. She was in great form and told me about how much she was looking forward to going to the party in Kinsale. She called with her mother, Josie. It was just a social visit. She was a lovely girl. The three girls... are all lovely.”

“The three all worked in AIB. Miriam was in Killarney, Patricia is in Dublin and Siobhán, the eldest works in the AIB in Listowel. Patricia is a lovely singer and loves Dolores Keane. She also plays the guitar. Miriam also had a lovely voice. When she called she also talked about her boyfriend who comes from Currow. She was just in such great form as she always was,” he said.

Mr Stackpoole, 60, who lives in Glin said it was an awful tragedy for the girls’ parents who idolised their three daughters.

Fr Gerard O’Leary, parish priest of Loughill said the thoughts of the entire community were with the Reidy family at this time of great sadness and suffering.

“For a social weekend to end up in such tragedy is unimaginable. The Reidy family are well-known and respected hugely in Ballyhahill and beyond and they have the support of the community in their time of need,” he said.

Local county councillor John Sheahan said the community’s prayers were with the family and Miriam’s sister Patricia, who remains in hospital.

“It is a massive shock to the area and the fact that two sisters are involved. Our prayers are going to Patricia that she will pull through — it is devastating that Miriam has lost her life in it, and we don’t want to see this tragedy compounded by another loss of life,” he said.

Mr Sheahan said the two sisters had booked into the hotel separately from the main party attending the hen weekend.

“They are a lovely quiet family. John is a great community worker in Ballyhahill and Josie is a great home maker and they adored their three girls.

“I can’t even wonder what’s going through their minds at the moment. It is unbelievable that this family have got such a double blow,” he said.

The girls’ mother, is a member of well-known Stackpoole family and comes from Tullyleague in Glin. Their employer, AIB, expressed its sympathy with the family.

“All of us here at AIB would just like to extend our deepest sympathies to Miriam’s family,” said a spokeswoman.