Tragic father of seven laid to rest after road accident
A FATHER of seven who died while he was driving his family to the beach was a loving father who was devoted to his wife and children, his funeral has heard.
Patrick McMahon, 39, of Churchtown, Co. Cork, was driving with his daughter Vanessa and her boyfriend Thomas when they collided headon with a tractor on Monday.
Vanessa, 15, and Thomas, 17, remain in a serious condition in Cork University Hospital following the accident in Ballincurrig, Co. Cork. His partner Gillian McAllen was following behind the van in a car and came across the scene moments after the crash. Yesterday, his family gathered at his funeral where he was remembered as a ‘kind father’ who had ‘a great sense of fun’.
He was laid to rest at St Gobnait’s Cemetery in Mallow, Co. Cork, following Requiem Mass at Christ the King Church in the city.
At the funeral Mass Fr Billy O’Sullivan said the passing of Patrick had caused immense sorrow to his loved ones. Fr O’Sullivan said that Patrick was a vibrant man.
‘He had a great sense of fun. He loved card games and was very fond of charades. He had a gift of friendship. He had good friends,’ he added.
Fr O’Sullivan said Mr McMahon loved the music of Johnny Cash while his special song with his partner Gillian was Perfect by Ed Sheeran.
‘We gather in solidarity with his partner Gillian and his children. We gather in deep shock and in deep grief. Above all he loved Gillian and the children. He loved his parents, brothers and sisters. There is not much we can say but to be in solidarity with those who loved Patrick most.’
Emergency services including gardaí, ambulances, paramedics and the Rescue Helicopter 112 attended at the scene on Monday. They freed the teenagers from the badly damaged van in a lengthy and difficult process.
The rescue helicopter had to land at a GAA pitch near CUH as the hospital does not have a helipad.
The teenagers were then transported by then travelled by ambulance to the hospital.
The driver of the tractor, a male in his 20s, was not injured in the incident. However he was said to have been ‘deeply shocked’.
Witnesses to the accident are asked to contact gardaí at Mallow on 022-31450, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111.