Mother who survived tragic car crash was ‘hysterical from grief’
A MOTHER whose family perished when their car plunged off the road and into Lough Foyle in Donegal, managed to clamber on to the roof and was rescued, it has emerged.
Nurse Geraldine Mullan, 45, was ‘hysterical from grief’ after the tragedy that saw her husband John Mullan, 49, and children Tomás, 14, and Amelia, 6, drowned.
The family were returning from a day out in Derry when they lost control of their vehicle and careered down an embankment and into Lough Foyle.
Mr Mullan died after becoming trapped in the family’s black Mitsubishi ASX SUV car.
The two children managed to get out of the car but perished. Mrs Mullan was able to get onto the upturned wreckage of the car and was rescued.
Local priest, Fr John Farren, who attended the scene told of his attempts to comfort Mrs Mullen.
He said that she was understandably ‘hysterical from grief’.
‘She was completely shocked... totally distressed and I was with her when we prayed with the three deceased,’ Fr Farren, parish priest of Iskaheen in Muff, said, adding: ‘It’s a terribly tragic incident, it’s just beyond words.’
The grief-stricken mother was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital where her injuries are not life-threatening although Gardaí say she has been left severely traumatised.
Garda Superintendent Eugene McGovern of Buncrana Garda Station was at the scene of the tragedy on Thursday night.
He said conditions were poor and the night was wet and windy.
He also revealed how the stretch of road at the Three Trees near Quigley’s Point had recently been resurfaced and investigators will examine if this may have contributed to the tragedy.
He said: ‘We knew fairly early on that we were dealing with a family situation here and it was very difficult.
‘We still don’t know what caused Mr Mullan to veer off the road but we will carry out a full investigation into all the circumstances.
‘It was a wet and windy night and the stretch of road where the crash happened had recently been resurfaced so that will form part of our investigation,’ he said.
‘This is an awful tragedy for the immediate families, but also for the wider community as the family are well known and respected in the locality,’ he said.
He appealed to anybody who was in the area at the time and who may have noticed anything to contact them.
‘We have already received a lot of information but [we’re appealing to] anybody who may have been in the area and witnessed anything to contact us.’
Mr Mullan worked at the Moville garden centre while Mrs Mullan is a nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Both their children attended schools in Moville. Tomás Mullan, 14, was entering his third year at Moville Community College.
A statement issued by his school principal, Anthony Doogan, said everyone is grieving the loss of three members of their school community.
He said: ‘We are deeply saddened by their deaths. We also keep in our thoughts the children’s mother Geraldine and wish her a speedy recovery.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the wider families and friends of Tomás, John and Amelia at this time.’
Local county councillor Martin Farren said he grew up with Mr Mullan and that he knew the family well.
‘It’s just impossible to put into words how people are feeling in the community right now, it’s just devastating.
‘You simply couldn’t have met nicer people and anybody will say the same. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Such a very, very sad time.’
The funerals are due to take place on Monday at 11am.
The notice reads: ‘Tragically the loss has occurred of John, Tómas and Amelia Mullan, loving father, son and daughter.’
The funeral will be private due to Government guidelines, but it can be viewed on www.movilleparish.com, according to the notice.
Mother has been left severely traumatised ‘You wouldn’t have met nicer people’