Hackney driver dies tragically

WEST Kerry was shocked and saddened by the death of local hackney driver Kevin Griffin following a crash at Lough outside Dingle on last Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood that Mr Griffin, from Monaree near Ventry, suffered a heart attack immediately before the minibus, in which he was carrying three passengers, veered across the narrow road and hit the ditch.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene and personnel administered CPR to Mr Griffin on the roadside before he was taken to University Hospital Kerry where he was pronounced dead. Mr Griffin, who was aged 52, sustained only minor injuries in the crash and it is understood that his tragic death was the result of a heart attack.

Mr Griffin was carrying three passengers to Ballintaggart, just three kilometres from Dingle, when the accident occurred. All three passengers, who were wearing seatbelts, were unhurt and Gardaí have confirmed that speed was not a factor in the accident.

Mr Griffin, who was a very bright student at school, left education early to help on the family farm in Monaree. He later worked with Comharchumann Chorca Dhuibhne and subsequently worked doing the local milk round with Mike Brosnan before setting up in business as a hackney driver some 10 years ago.

He competed for many years in local naomhóg regattas with a crew that included Conor Brosnan, and his Ventry parish neighbours Joe Bric, Nick Masset and Conor O’Mahony. The crew was rarely among the winners but Kevin, a man of few words, enjoyed the rowing for the comradeship as much as the competition.

He was well known and respected as a hackney driver and hundreds of local people attended his removal from O’Connor’s Funeral Home last Friday evening and his funeral to Milltown Cemetery on Saturday morning to pay their last respects and sympathise with his grieving family.

Mr Griffin is survived by his partner Trish, his sisters Mary, Elizabeth and Siobhán, brothers Pat, John, Tom and Rory, uncles, aunts, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.