MEP's brother killed in weekend of road carnage
Local gardai and fire brigade at the scene of the crash where Flor Crowley lost his life on the Bandon to Timoleague road in Co Cork yesterday afternoon
Monday December 28 2009
FIANNA Fail MEP Brian Crowley was in mourning yesterday following the death of his younger brother Flor in a car crash, one of three people to die in separate accidents on treacherous roads at the weekend.
Father-of-three Flor Crowley (42) lost his life in a crash at Old Chapel outside Bandon. The single vehicle accident happened in icy conditions shortly after midday yesterday when the Chrysler people-carrier he was driving struck a ditch.
Mr Crowley, who is from the Timoleague side of Bandon, was with his wife Aideen and the couple's three children, all under the age of 11. Fortunately, they escaped serious injury in the accident, which happened as the family drove to Mass.
Cutting equipment had to be used at the scene and Mr Crowley was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Cork University Hospital.
Supt Liam Horgan described the crash as being a "terrible accident." A family friend said the Crowleys would not be issuing a statement as they wanted to keep their grief private.
Mr Crowley worked as an accountant with Impact Training in Maryborough in Cork city.
Gardai in Bandon are appealing for witnesses to contact them in Bandon at 023 8852200 or the Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666 11.
Brian Crowley (45) has topped the poll in Munster in every election he has contested, making him one of the most successful public representatives in Irish electoral history. His father, Flor Crowley Snr, who died in 1997, served as a TD and senator for various Cork constituencies in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Meanwhile, father-of-six Patrick Kelly, of Lissycassey, Co Clare, died after the jeep he was driving rolled down a hill after losing traction in icy conditions on Saturday morning.
Mr Kelly, who was in his 40s, was travelling between two of the farms he ran in the area when the accident happened at about 11.30am. It is believed the jeep left the road and rolled some distance down a hill into a valley.
The alarm was raised when his family failed to reach him on his mobile phone and a search soon got underway. The jeep was found at about 5pm.
Rallied
Local councillor PJ Kelly said the local community rallied round by gritting the roads and assisting the emergency services to reach Mr Kelly's body.
"The area where this tragedy happened was virtually inaccessible. Up to 30 locals arrived to help in a matter of minutes and provided transport in dangerous conditions for the gardai and ambulance crews," he said.
Icy conditions are also believed to have caused an early morning accident at Durrow, Co Offaly, in which a 31-year-old woman died. She was alone in her car when it collided with a tree at 8.40am yesterday morning. No one else was injured in the accident.
Gardai in Tullamore are investigating and witnesses are asked to contact them on 057 9327600.
A motorist who died on Christmas Eve when his car hit a ditch near Louisburgh, Co Mayo, has been named as Bernard Fuller from Chapel Street, Louisburgh.
Mr Fuller (57) was alone at the time. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardai are appealing to witnesses to the incident, which occurred in the townland of Moneen, to contact them at 098 66055.
- Olivia Kelleher, Grainne Cunningham and Pat Flynn
Irish Independent
