'How they will ever get over this?': Killarney community devastated at death of Thomas Healy, 14
Thomas Healy, 14, lost control of the 25-year-old Toyota Corolla. Picture: RIP.ie
The teenager who lost his life in Killarney this morning after the car he was driving struck a kerb and hit a tree has been named locally as Thomas Healy.
The 14-year-old is the son of Gerard Healy, a local musician known as the singing jarvey and his wife Julia who live near the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney. The youngest of four children, the late Thomas, known as Tommy, was also a student at the Intermediate School Killorglin. His older brother Jack Patrick Healy is a well-known musician, now based in London.
The single-vehicle crash happened on the Ross Road, close to Ross Castle in Killarney at around 1.10am this morning.
The young boy, who was driving a 25-year-old Toyota Corolla, lost control of the vehicle before it collided with a tree. He died at the scene.
A male passenger in the car, also believed to be aged 14, was taken to Kerry University Hospital where he is understood to be in a critical condition.
A garda spokesperson said the vehicle was subject to interaction with local gardaí prior to the collision, and that the matter has now been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSoc).
A spokesperson for the garda ombudsman said: "GSOC received a referral (under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act) from a Garda Superintendent in relation to an incident in which a male driver was fatally injured in a single-vehicle road traffic collision in the early hours of this morning on the Ross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.
"The vehicle had come to the attention of gardaí in Killarney town center prior to the collision.
"The matter is now under examination by GSoc.
"GSOC would like to ask any potential witnesses to the incident and also anyone that may have captured the incident on CCTV, or dashcam footage, to please contact GSOC at 1890 600 800 or info@gsoc.ie."
The scene where the car crashed, in what was wet weather, was about 250 metres from the Ross Castle, and in an area where there is a series of bends in the lead up to the Ross Castle Car Park.
It is the scene of a previous fatal road traffic accident.
The scene remained closed this morning to allow for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
Local diversions are now in place and motorists have been asked to avoid the area.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Killarney on 064 6671160 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Gardaí said their investigations are ongoing.
They said: “The driver of the car, a male youth in his teens, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“A passenger in the car, also a male youth in his teens, was taken to Kerry University Hospital to receive treatment for serious injuries.”
They added: “This vehicle was subject to interaction with Gardaí prior to the collision.
“As such the matter has been referred to GSoc.”
Danny Healy-Rae, who knows the family and is related to the youth who died, told the : "I am devastated for the lad and his poor family.
"He was a lovely boy and he comes from a lovely family. I know his parents very well and the lad's grandparents," he said.
The passenger in the car, who is from the local area, was seriously injured.
Although he is believed to have sustained serious head injuries, he is expected to survive Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae also expressed his condolences this morning.
"We are awfully shocked and sorry for the family," Cllr Healy-Rae said.
A minute's silence was held at the start of the Killarney Municipal District and the mayor of Killarney Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) expressed her shock and sympathy.
She said the council’s thoughts and prayers were with both families.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the elected councillors in the Municipal District, I express our solidarity with all those affected by both of these dreadful tragedies,” Cllr Moloney said.
In a separate fatal incident, a motorcyclist in his 30s, believed to be from Killorglin, died after a motorcycle crash at Listry some seven miles north of Killarney.
The man has now been named locally as James O'Connor.
He was in a collision with a car at Listry Bridge, on the R563 between Killarney and Milltown, at around 8pm.
He was removed from the scene by Ambulance to University Hospital Kerry, where his condition was at first described as serious.
However, his condition deteriorated and he later died.
Some of the same personnel involved in the emergency services including fire personnel attended both scenes, at Listry and at Ross Road.
The scene of the accident is almost the same spot in 2004 where another teenager died.
Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Marie Moloney said: “ I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of the young boy killed on the Ross Road in Killarney last night.
“The people of Killarney have been deeply shocked by this dreadful news and it is really the worst possible news to wake up to this morning, not least for the family, neighbours, and friends of those involved.
“We hope and pray that the other passenger in the car will make a full recovery."
Councillor Michael Cahill, Chairperson of Kenmare Municipal District and Deputy Mayor of Kerry County Council, also expressed his sadness at the loss of two young lives in two separate accidents in Kerry last night.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Thomas Healy and James O’Connor, two young people who lost their lives tragically on our roads this week.
“This is a very difficult time for family members and friends of the deceased and I know that the local communities involved will offer all the help and support possible," Cllr Cahill said.
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