Relatives of US crash family say thank you for support
Thursday June 18 2009
THE family of three children left orphaned in a horrific car crash in the US last night paid a warm tribute to everyone who reached out to help them in their hour of need.
The families of Kerry-born GAA player Joe O'Connell (50) and his wife, Ann (44), are planning to bring their bodies home to Ireland to be buried.
The pair, along with their three children, were involved in a smash on a four-lane highway in Iowa on Sunday, only a few hours after they set off from their US home for a holiday on the West Coast.
Van rolled
Their van, packed with luggage for their holiday, turned over several times throwing all but the driver, their 15-year-old daughter Sarah who was on a learner's permit and wearing a seatbelt, from their Honda Odyssey, according to Iowa State Patrol in the US.
Both parents died following the crash, while Sarah and Colman (13) were hospitalised, but have since been released. Their youngest daughter, Maeve (10), was last night described as being in a "fair condition" at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
Their family thanked everyone for their kind efforts through a website dedicated to the O'Connell family, who had set up home in the city of Madison, Wisconsin, after leaving Ireland around eight years ago.
"Many thanks to all of those reaching out to offer help," they said. "Your kindness means everything to the family."
The family said Sarah and Colman would be "reunited" with Maeve at the Iowa hospital.
"Maeve, who suffered more serious injuries, is progressing," they added.
Both parents were well known in GAA circles, as Mr O'Connell, from Causeway, Co Kerry, and his wife Ann, from Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway, had a strong interest in sport. Mr O'Connell was a former All-Ireland medal-winning Kerry hurler, while Mrs O'Connell, nee Coleman, was a well-known former Galway camogie player.
Fr Brendan Walsh, the parish priest for Causeway, said the families planned to bring the bodies home, with the burial expected to take place in the Kerry village. However, a date has not yet been confirmed.
- Louise Hogan
