Tragic death in Canada
“THIS is a terrible tragedy and people are heartbroken about what has happened.”
Those were the words of Kanturk parish priest Canon Jackie Corkery following the news that a local man had lost his life in a road traffic accident in Canada.
Raymond McCann died alongside Bandon man Cathal Murphy when the car they were travelling in crashed near the town of Melita in the province of Manitoba.
In a statement the McCann family said they were “devastated at the death of a much loved father and brother”.
THE town of Kanturk was left shocked after news broke that a local man was one of two people who people who lost their lives in a tragic car accident in Canada on Saturday morning.
Raymond McCann, (42) who had only been in Canada for the past month, died alongside Bandon native Cathal Murphy (33) when their car crashed on a highway in the province of Manitoba.
Canadian news outlet cbc.ca reported that the two men died after car overturned on a stretch of road near the town of Melita.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RMPC) emergency services rushed to the scene and righted the car, but the two men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the tragedy both the McCann and Murphy families issued moving statements through the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“The family of Raymond McCann are devastated at the death of a much loved father and brother in a road traffic accident in Canada on Saturday, October 8,” read the statement from the McCann family.
“We are very thankful for the support shown to us at this difficult time. We would ask, however, that the media would now respect our privacy as we try to come to terms with our loss.”
Local county councillor Bernard Moynihan said the tightly knit community in Kanturk was shocked by the news of Mr McCann’s death.
“This is a terrible tragedy for the McCann’s, their friends and those who knew Ray. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them at this very sad time,” said Cllr Moynihan.
He said that arrangements were underway to bring Mr McCann’s remains back home to Kanturk.
Kanturk parish priest Canon Jackie Corkery described Mr McCann’s death as a “terrible tragedy” for the town.
“I would have known members of the McCann family very well. They were very much respected locally and good neighbours,” said Canon Corkery.
“This is a terrible tragedy and people are heartbroken at what has happened.”
Meanwhile, people took to social media posting messages expressing their grief at Mr McCann’s death.