Family ask mourners to pray for driver
As Joe Lane was laid to rest yesterday in Clarinbridge, Co Galway, his only son asked the congregation to pray for Michael Conlon, who was in the car at the centre of the accident.
Speaking at his father’s funeral, Graham Lane also prayed for the seven survivors of the crash — including the driver and co-driver — to make a full recovery.
“We pray for the driver and navigator and their families,” he said.
“May God give them the strength to get through this difficult time.
“Lord we ask for your blessing today for Caroline Cleary, her family and her partner Sean ... Also the people who are in hospital, may they make a full recovery.”
Mr Lane, a 50-year-old rally enthusiast and photographer, was laid to rest at the cemetery adjoining the Church of the Annunciation in Clarinbridge.
Hundreds of friends and family packed into the small church, while colleagues in the media from On the Limit Sports, Motorsport Ireland, as well as fellow members of Galway Motor Club, flanked the hearse before and after the Mass.
Clarinbridge parish priest, Fr David Murphy, spoke of his shock at the death of Mr Lane — who was known as Joe Joe — and urged the community to gather around his family as they cope with their loss.
“Last Sunday on my return journey through Heuston Station I saw a big screen that constantly plays RTÉ News. It was telling the people about the tragedy that happened in Cavan and I thought how terribly sad it was for the families involved,” said Fr Murphy.
“Little did I think that on my return home that one of the families involved was one of our own parishioners.”
During the ceremony a camera and a model of a Jordan Formula 1 car was brought to the altar to symbolise Mr Lane’s passions for photography and motor racing. Mr Lane is survived by his wife Martina, his son Graham, 23, and his daughter Shona, 16.
Similar scenes are expected today as Caroline Cleary, 29, who also lost her life in the tragedy, is laid to rest in her home county of Wexford.
Ms Cleary, who was 14 weeks pregnant with her first child and was also a rally car navigator, had recently moved to Enniskeane in West Cork to be closer to her partner, rally co-driver Sean Hayde.
Since early April she had been working at Niall’s Restaurant in the Riverview Shopping Centre in Bandon, with her co-workers describing her as a bright and bubbly personality.
Ms Cleary will be removed to St Alphonsus’ Church, Barntown, Co Wexford, after 11am Mass today, before burial at the adjoining ceremony.
Her family have requested flowers from relatives only, and that anyone wishing to donate money should transfer it to the Motor Sport of Ireland Benevolent Fund.
