Mullingar in shock as families ‘processing’ tragic news
· IrishCentralMark McCullagh, his sister-in-law Amy and Mark’s partner Michaela Newcombe were killed when their car fell over 100 feet after a motorway collision in Malaga in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Amy McCullagh’s husband Ian, who is Mark’s older brother, was also in the car during the crash and was hospitalized with serious injuries.
It’s understood that Ian, 31, the vehicle’s driver, had to be cut out of the rental car by emergency services, before being brought to Carlos Haya Hospital, while a 64-year-old woman who was in the other car was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
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It is understood the Irish victims were from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath. Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath Robert Troy said he spoke to the family of one of the victims, who had received "the worst of phone calls" on Sunday to break the news.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday, he said he hopes the community in Mullingar will be able to support the McCullagh and Newcombe families.
He said: "It’s absolutely devastating news. Unfortunately, I know one of the families quite well. I spoke to them yesterday. Needless to say, they’re absolutely devastated. It’s the worst of phone calls to get. They only went on holidays at the end of last week, and to get this call yesterday evening was heartbreaking.
"Our thoughts are with that family and all families affected. They are part of our community, they need our support now and they will get that support. Neighbours, extended family, friends will rally around and show the families they’re not on their own."
He continued: "Their families are processing now that some of them are not coming back home. That is an awful thing to have to deal with. What they need is the time, space and necessary supports, and they will get the necessary supports from the embassy; the embassy has been engaging with them."
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In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance to the families involved.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee described the crash as "an absolutely devastating accident.
"It is a tragic accident, a tragic incident and the most important thing now is their families are supported and given every assistance possible," she said. Ms McEntee offered her condolences to the families and said her department and An Garda Síochána had reached out to them immediately.
A friend of Ms Newcombe, Ryan Dowd Sabourin, paid tribute to her online, writing that she was "one of a kind, the nicest soul inside and out", adding: "My heart is broken over you and everyone else involved. I’ll never forget yous all, town won’t be right for a long time. I really hope you are all at peace and my thoughts and prayers are with all the families."
Ms Newcombe worked in the Havana Sun beauty salon in Mullingar, which closed yesterday as a mark of respect. Dozens of tributes have been posted on the salon’s Facebook page, describing Ms Newcombe as "full of life", "always smiling" and always having a kind word for everyone she meets.
Other messages said she was "a beautiful person inside and out" with a "bubbly personality".
Another friend of the group wrote on social media that the three victims were "genuine people all gone way too young".
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"Ian, I hope you pull through and recover for your kids and family. Mullingar is in shock over this tragic accident," they added.
A spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard described Ian McCullagh’s injuries as "very serious", and said an investigation into the cause of the crash was under way.
"A woman in the other car will be interviewed by officers as part of the probe, which is now being coordinated by a local court," he said. "The investigators will have information about where the Irish nationals were coming from and were heading to, but that is not information that we will be making public."
He added: "Two vehicles collided, and one of them plunged down an embankment near the road while traveling towards Almeria at kilometer 979, at the Cerrado de Calderon turn-off.
"Civil Guard officers were mobilized, along with firefighters – who freed those trapped – local police and emergency medical personnel from the Andalusian Health Service.
"The 061 Emergency Health Centre confirmed the deaths of two women and one man."
A minute’s silence was held at the start of Westmeath County Council’s meeting yesterday as a mark of respect. Independent councillor Michael Dollard said those involved in the crash would have been "very well-known people around the town".
He said it will take "a long time" for the people of Mullingar to "understand how three young lives can be taken away so quickly, especially people away on holiday".
Cllr Dollard described what happened as "a tragedy for all of the families", and added that it shows how "fragile human life is".
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* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.