Louth community comes together in candlelit gathering for critically injured doctor

Dr Seán Owens was knocked off his bike on Monday evening at around 6:30 pm while on his way home from work at his surgery in Castlebellingham. File photo

A candlelit gathering for a doctor who was seriously injured following a hit-and-run in Co Louth last week has heard that he remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital.

Dr Seán Owens was knocked off his bike on Monday evening at around 6.30pm while on his way home from work at his surgery in Castlebellingham.

A 37-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the incident.

On Sunday evening, a large group of people from his community gathered in his hometown of Blackrock in Co. Louth, where his family gave a statement on his condition to locals.

His friend and colleague, Dr Siobhan Garavaglia, told those in attendance that “many people stopped to help Seán, to whom we will be eternally grateful”.

She said that Dr Owens was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

“Seán was conscious when he got to Drogheda. He recognised a doctor that he knew there, and Irene, his wife, got to see him, talk to him, and reassure him,” she said.

“There appeared to be some fractures to his neck, but he was able to move his legs and arms on demand, and although drowsy, he was able to answer all questions.” 

However, she said he stopped responding to doctors and had to be “intubated and sedated” before being sent by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where he was admitted to ICU.

She said he underwent surgery “to relieve pressure in his skull that occurred from swelling” and was kept under close observation.

“He was kept intubated, but nurses started to slowly remove the sedation on Thursday morning so that they could observe his responses,” she continued.

His family were kept updated and informed that his treatment would “take some time”.

Dr Garavaglia said Dr Owen’s wife, Irene, and his brother, Maurice, have been staying in Dublin and visiting him daily.

“The most recent update from ICU today (Sunday) is that Seán is breathing on his own, has opened his eyes, and is moving his feet and hand,” she said.

“Although Seán is still in a critical condition in ICU, this is a hugely positive step.” She thanked his friends and community on behalf of his wife Irene and sons Harry and Austin.

In a post shared online by Geraldines GFC, and many other groups and organisations in the local community as well as LMFM radio, the gathering was described as an opportunity to "send all of our positive energy and heartfelt wishes to Seán for his safe and speedy recovery."

Dr Owens had recently penned a letter entitled Why Are We All in Such a Hurry to Kill Ourselves... and Our Planet to his local councillors, where he highlighted the dangers of speeding in his local community.

As a member of the Louth Walking and Tandem Cycle for Health (WATCH) club, he said he wished to see speed limits that would work with those who choose to cycle to work.

He wrote: “One of the aims of this club is to re-imagine this road space not just for motorists and cyclists but all members of society. This includes slowing motorists down, both urban and rural.” 

“With current speed limits, the above can all be taken away from me if a motorist isn’t looking, is distracted, or makes a genuine mistake...but at speed.” 

He said he was petitioning for safer cycling in Dundalk and more cycle lanes.