Horror crash is ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’
Ms Fitzgerald extended her sympathy to John and Michelle Gilmore, from Tuam, Co Galway, whose daughters Kate, 2, and 12-week-old Grace were killed on the outskirts of the town on Sunday afternoon.
Ms Fitzgerald, who was in Galway for a number of functions yesterday, said the deaths of the girls had created widespread shock and grief. “I think it is devastating news,” she said. “It is every parent’s worst nightmare to have an appalling tragedy like this visited upon you. It is just beyond words, really.
“I want to offer my sincere condolences to everybody affected by this, but of course to the parents, the Gilmore family primarily, and all their extended family and friends and the community here.”
The girls, who died when they were struck by a car not far from their home at the Meadows in Tuam, will be laid to rest tomorrow.
Mass of the Angels will be celebrated in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Belclare outside Tuam, where the Mrs Gilmore is from.
The Mass will take place at 12pm, to be followed by burial in nearby Killower Cemetery.
A minute’s silence was observed at a meeting of Galway County Council yesterday afternoon in memory of the girls.
A book of condolence will be opened today at Tuam Town Council. The mayor of Tuam, Eamon Kitt, said the book was in response to the outpouring of grief in the town and the north Galway area.
Gardaí investigating the incident on the N17 are trying to establish the circumstances which led to the car going on to the hard shoulder and colliding with the girls and their father.
The driver of the car, who is from Tuam, was taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
One of the theories being investigated by gardaí is that the driver, who was the sole occupant of the Toyota Avensis involved in the incident which happened at 12.45pm on Sunday, may have suffered a seizure.
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