Father and two children who died after car plunged into Lough Foyle named
The father and two children killed when their car plunged off the road into Lough Foyle in Co Donegal last night have been named by Gardaí.
They were John Mullan, aged 49 years, and his children Thomas, aged 14, and Amelia, aged six, from Moville.
Mrs Geraldine Mullan, aged 45, survived and is being treated in hospital.
Mr Mullan worked at the Moville garden centre while Mrs Mullan is a nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital. Both their children attended schools in Moville.
A friend said the family were quiet and "kept themselves to themselves" but went out of their way to help anyone who needed help.
The family were returning from a day out in Derry when they lost control of their vehicle and careered down an embankment and into Lough Foyle.
Mr Mullan died after he became trapped in the black Mitsubishi ASX SUV car.
The two children managed to get out of the car but perished.
Mrs Mullan escaped onto the upturned wreckage of the car and was rescued.
She was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital where her injuries are not life-threatening although Gardaí say she has been left severely traumatised.
Garda Superintendent Eugene McGovern of Buncrana Garda Station was at the scene of the tragedy last night.
He said conditions were poor and the night was wet and windy.
He also revealed how the stretch of road at the Three Trees near Quigley's Point had recently been resurfaced and investigators will examine whether this may have contributed to the tragedy.
He said: "We knew fairly early on that we were dealing with a family situation here and it was very difficult.
"We still don't know what caused Mr Mullan to veer off the road but we will carry out a full investigation into all the circumstances.
"It was a wet and windy night and the stretch of road where the crash happened had recently been resurfaced so that will form part of our investigation," he said.
Supt. McGovern said the loss of Mr Mullan and the two children has come as a great blow to the area.
"It is just difficult to find words for the families involved. Mr and Mrs Mullan's families have been informed of the situation and that is why we are now releasing their names.
"This is an awful tragedy for the immediate families but also for the wider community as the family are well known and respected in the locality," he said.
He appealed to anybody who was in the area at the time and who may have noticed anything to contact them.
"We have already received a lot of information but anybody who may have been in the area and witnessed anything to contact us at Buncrana Garda Station on (074) 9320540, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Meanwhile, local Donegal Deputies Padraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty have expressed the sympathy of the community following the tragedy.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said “This is such a heartbreaking tragedy and myself and Deputy Pearse Doherty want to convey our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the man and two children who have died.
"The people of Inishowen and Donegal have suffered more than most from road tragedies over the years and we have no doubt that our people will do all that we can to support the devastated family at this terrible time and in the time ahead”.
Local county councillor Martin Farren said he grew up with Mr Mullan and knew the family well.
He said he is simply in shock like the rest of the local community.
"It's just impossible to put into words how people are feeling in the community right now, it's just devastating.
"You simply couldn't have met nicer people and anybody will say the same. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time, such a very, very sad time."
Meanwhile, a local priest who attended the scene of last night's horrific road tragedy has spoken of the tragedy.
Fr John Farren, parish priest of Ishkaheen in Muff, attended the scene of the horrific crash.
Fr Farren told of his attempts to comfort and pray with the mother of the children who managed to escape from the family car.
"It's a terribly tragic incident, it's just beyond words."
He said he prayed with the mother at the scene of the crash for a short time and that she was "hysterical from grief".
"She was completely shocked...totally distressed and I was with her when we prayed with the three deceased," Fr Farren said.
The funerals of the Mullan family will take place on Monday.
The death notice reads "Tragically the loss has occurred of John, Tómas and Amelia Mullan, loving father, son and daughter.
"Deeply missed by his wife and mother Geraldine (nee Connaughton, Williamstown, Co. Galway), grandparents Margaret and Martin, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and the whole community."
The family's house in Moville is private due to Government Guidelines.
Family flowers only and donations can be made to Laura Lynn Children's Hospice c/o any family member.
The funeral can be viewed on www.movilleparish.com on Monday, 24th August 2020, at 11am.
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