Teenager dies just yards from where grandfather was killed 22 years ago

A family was reeling this weekend after their teenage son died at the same spot where his grandfather also lost his life over 20 years ago.

Both were pedestrians who were knocked down as they crossed the road at Monasterboice, Co Louth.

It also emerged that the family of Shane Whelan, 19, were on the scene on Sunday within seconds because he was crossing the road to join them as a family stag and hen weekend was coming to an end.

In a dreadful twist of fate, the groom, Francis McCullough, an uncle of Shane’s, and his fiancée, were with their friends and extended family and had met at the pub — the Monasterboice Inn where Shane worked part-time.

“He should have been coming here today to work at 12.30. We are all in shock,” said one member of staff who did not wish to be named.

No one wanted to comment on-the-record about the tragedy but another staff member said, “there are no words to describe what we are going through. It is unbelievable to think his granddad died at the same spot”.

In the entrance porch to the pub and restaurant staff placed a picture of Shane with a candle in front of it in memory of their lost colleague.

Gardaí last night renewed their appeal for anyone who was in the vicinity of the inn “or who saw anything of assistance to contact us”, said Garda superintendent Gerry Smith, Drogheda.

It is understood that the car that struck Shane was driven by a priest. He was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with facial injuries and suffering from shock.

A postmortem on Mr Whelan’s remains will take place this morning.

Locals last night said that Shane’s grandfather Don McCullough, had lived up a lane just opposite the inn.

They also confirmed that an uncle of Shane’s had died when he was just two years old after being struck by a milk lorry.

Shane was the oldest of two sons and a student at Drogheda Institute of Further Technology, where he was studying sport. He was a past pupil of St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda and dozens of his school-friends left messages on his Facebook page.

In a moving tribute on his Facebook page his brother Conor said: “As he loved to say, he was living the dream and bet he did love u big brother don’t know what ill do without u love u big man R.I.P bro love u so much xxxxxxxx”

His parents John and Bernie, Ballymakenny, Drogheda were being comforted by family and close friends last night.

It was his maternal grandfather who lost his life in May 1991.

Both were crossing the road at the inn, which is known locally as Donegan’s.

Supt Smith confirmed gardaí are investigating the accident and will prepare a file for the DPP.