MLA’s grief after nephew (18) dies in road accident
A YOUNG man who died after a three-vehicle road crash in Co Fermanagh on his way home from visiting his girlfriend was a nephew of Sinn Fein MLA Sean Lynch.
Piaras McElroy (18) from Drumma Lane in Lisnaskea was killed when the car he was driving was involved in a collision with another car and a van transporter.
The crash happened on the Moorlough Road between Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler at around 9.45pm on Monday.
A woman was taken to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen for treatment to injuries which were described as not life-threatening.
Mr McElroy had been returning home after visiting his girlfriend Niamh at her place of work when the crash occurred.
A past pupil of Bunscoil an Traonaigh and St Comhghall’s College in Lisnaskea, he had been working as an apprentice electrician with electrical contractor Axon in Dungannon since the summer.
Mr McElroy was a nephew of the Fermanagh-South Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA Sean Lynch, while his mother Ruth represented the party for many years on Fermanagh District Council, serving as vice chairperson on one occasion.
Paying tribute to his nephew
last night, Mr Lynch told the Belfast Telegraph: “As a family we are just devastated and we are trying to come to terms with our loss.
“Piaras had only recently passed his driving test and just started a new job, but now he has tragically lost his life on our roads. He was a good but quiet kid who was very close to his family”.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Fermanagh South Tyrone Sinn Fein said: “It is with profound sadness that we have received the news that our young member, Piaras Mac Giolla Rua (McElroy), has lost his life as the result of a tragic accident.
“Our thoughts are with the Lynch and McElroy family circle, as well as all of his many friends. We know that the community will support them all at this awful time and in the time ahead.”
Only last month the Lynch family circle celebrated the 100th birthday of Mr McElroy’s grandfather, James. He and his wife Maureen (90), who have 12 children, are this week mourning the tragic loss of a second grandchild. In 2001 their eldest grandson, Gary Lynch, was killed in a motorbike accident in New York.
Mr McElroy is survived by his parents, Ruth and Noel, sisters Eimear and Teagan, his partner Niamh, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and a large circle of family and friends.
His funeral mass will take place at 11am on Friday in St Patrick’s Church in Donagh, with the burial in the adjoining cemetery. Meanwhile, police are appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.
PSNI Inspector Jonathan Gordon said: “We are investigating the circumstances of the collision and I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed it or anyone who may have captured the incident as dashcam or helmet-cam footage.”
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with police in Lisnaskea on the non-emergency number 101.