Tributes pour in for popular grandmother, 70s, who was killed after car mounted footpath in Cork

Tributes have been paid to this popular grandmother - who was killed in a freak accident when buying tickets for a GAA lottery.

Mary Fehilly, who was in her 70s, was fatally injured when a car mounted a pavement in the centre of Charleville, Co Cork on Saturday afternoon.

Mrs Fehilly, who was from the town, was buying GAA lottery tickets from a stall manned by local man Johnny Collins when the accident happened.

READ MORE - Pedestrian, 70s, dies after being struck by car in north Cork town

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Mr Collins, who is in his 60s, was badly injured in the incident and suffered a broken leg. The driver understood to be a woman from the area in her 70s, was not injured.

Mr Collins was rushed to Cork University Hospital along with Ms Fehilly - but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Mrs Fehilly, who was a native of the town, was a Eucharistic Minister in the local parish. Holy Cross priest Fr Donal O Mahony told the Irish Mirror that the community was devastated by her death.

He said: “They were shocked by the accident first of all and terribly upset that Mary died. People came into the church and were crying when they spoke about her leaving us.”

He added: “Mary was a treasured member of our parish. She was a eucharistic minister for decades, really.

“She would always be very helpful around the church - she was always willing to help out in whatever was going on around the church down the years.”

He also said Mr Collins was sitting up in the hospital and was talking. He said: “His leg is broken and he got a bad bash, but he is doing okay. He was talking yesterday and was inquiring how Mary was. He got very upset. It is just a terrible tragedy. It was a complete accident.

And local councillor Ian Doyle also paid tribute to Mrs Fehilly. She said: “It was a desperate accident. Mary was a great community person. She was a saint of a person.”

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses over the accident. It said in a statement that the accident happened at around 2pm on Saturday.

It said: “Shortly before 2pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to a collision involving a car and two pedestrians on Main Street, Charleville. The two pedestrians, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 60s, were taken to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries.

“The pedestrian in her 70s was later pronounced deceased at Cork University Hospital. The condition of the second pedestrian is understood to be stable.

“The scene has been examined by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the local coroner has been notified. A post-mortem examination will be arranged.

“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. They are also seeking mobile phone and dash-cam footage from anyone who was in the vicinity of Main Street, Charleville, at the time of the collision.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station at 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any local Garda station.

Meanwhile, Gardaí in Co Galway are also investigating a fatal road incident that happened on Saturday. The victim, named locally as Joshua Sullivan, died after he fell off a tractor close to Oranmore on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Sullivan was from the Oranmore area. He was taken to University Hospital Galway after the accident, where he was later pronounced dead.

Gardaí said in a statement: “Gardaí were alerted to an incident involving a tractor which occurred on a local road in Rinn, Oranmore at approximately 3:30pm.

“A male passenger, 19 years old, injured in the incident was transferred by ambulance personnel to University Hospital Galway, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.

“No other injuries were reported. The scene was preserved for a technical examination which has since taken place and the road has reopened. A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to support the family of the deceased.”

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