Man dies in fall as he erects lights for mother’s funeral

A man who was critically injured in a fall from a ladder as he prepared for his mother’s funeral has died.

Patrick (Pa) Bowens, a father of three, suffered severe head injuries when he fell from the ladder at his mother’s home in Cloonfad, Co Roscommon, on Monday.

Mr Bowens, who was in his 40s and from Pollanalty, Cloonfad, was erecting lights at his mother’s home shortly after hearing of her unexpected death in a Dublin hospital.

He was doing this to facilitate mourners who would be calling to her home to sympathise with the family.

He was transferred by air ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he passed away. His wife Elaine had been at his bedside since the accident.

He is survived also by his children Jason, Adam and Ciara, his father Sean, brothers and sister.

His remains will repose in Cloonfad this evening and burial will take place tomorrow in the local cemetery following the funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church.

His mother Mary’s funeral Mass took place in the church in Cloonfad yesterday and burial followed in the local cemetery. She is survived by her husband Sean and family.

The local community in the Cloonfad area has been shocked by the double tragedy .