TRIBUTES poured in for the “loveliest child in the world” and the “best brother”, who was killed in a two-car collision early this Thursday morning.
The deceased, named locally as Simon ‘Sammy’ McInerney, died when the car he was driving impacted with another car on the N21 at Templeglantine, County Limerick, shortly before 1am.
Mr McInerney (21), with family links in Rathkeale, was pronounced dead at the scene, while three teenagers travelling in the same car were seriously injured.
The three teenagers, including two juvenile girls and an older male teenager, were rushed from the scene by ambulance to hospitals across the Munster region.
One of the girls was left with life-threatening injuries.
A man and woman were travelling in the other car involved in the fatal collision. The man, aged in his 20s, was also taken to hospital by ambulance with serious lower limb injuries.
A sister of Mr McInerney shared photographs of her late brother online and told of her shock at his sudden death in an online tribute.
“You will always be number one to me,” her online tribute read. “It’s like a bad nightmare I’m not waking up from.”
“You’re in a better place now my friend, I hope you have a golden bed in heaven,” a friend of Mr McInerney wrote.
Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey said the town of Rathkeale was in “shock” and “a deep sadness” at Mr McInerney’s passing.
“The community is crestfallen and in deep mourning at this sad occasion.”
Mr Teskey said it was the “second consecutive fatal incident involving a car in the locality at Christmas time” and he reiterated his condolences to the family of local Traveller woman, Marguerita O’Rourke née Sheridan, who died one year ago next Sunday, in Rathkeale, when a van collided with gates that she had been standing by at the time.
Appealing for witnesses to this morning’s fatal collision, Gardaí said: “Any road users, who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were traveling on the N21 between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West between midnight and 1am are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 206 50, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.