GRIEF OF DAD WHO LOST SON AND DAUGHTER
Brother and sister who died in crash laid to rest
HEARTBROKEN father Mylie Dempsey said his life will never be the same again after a horrific crash which claimed the lives of his daughter Anne and son Sylvester.
The Wexford brother and sister, who were tragically killed when their Renault Clio was in collision with a Land Rover Discovery at Barntown last week, died seven years from the day their mother passed away.
Anne and Sylvester (Sylvie) Dempsey were both in their 40s and lived with their father in Clongeen, Wellingtonbridge. They were laid to rest at St. Aidan’s Church in Clongeen on Saturday.
The siblings had been on their way home from a shopping trip to Pettitt’s SuperValu in St Aidan’s Crescent when the crash occurred.
The two construction workers in the 4X4 escaped with relatively minor injuries in the collision, which happened shortly before 1.30 p.m. last Wednesday.
Gardai, who have appealed to anyone with dashcam footage to contact them, are investigating how the 4X4 came to be on the wrong side of the N25 when the crash happened. Both cars are being technically examined by garda experts.
THE heartbroken father of a brother and sister killed in a car crash has told how his life will never be the same again.
Anne and Sylvester Dempsey died instantly when their Renault Clio car was struck by an on-coming SUV at midday last Wednesday. They died seven years on from the day their mother Ellen died.
Myles said: ‘I was at home on Wednesday at 5 p.m. when a ban garda, another guard and Fr (Colm) Murphy came to see me. I knew it was bad. When they told me what happened I was stuck to the ground. I couldn’t ever explain how bad it hit me. I reared them with Ellen and now we are just barely sticking together.’
Anne (47) from Clongeen had been on her way back from her regular shopping trip to Pettitt’s supermarket in St Aidan’s in Wexford town. She had been looking forward to taking the ferry to visit cousins in England last weekend.
Both Anne and Sylvester (44), lived with Mylie, 71, all their lives. They have two brothers, Seamus and Noel, and two sisters, Martina and Pauline.
Mylie said Anne cared for Sylvester who suffered from ill health as a child and had a major health set back last December when he had a stroke.
Their mum Ellen also died suddenly. ‘She went into hospital on a Friday evening and was dead on the Monday morning,’ Myles recalled.
Myles, originally from Ballindaggin, said Anne was the boss of the house and made sure everything ran smoothly. His eldest daughter, Anne attended Clongeen NS, before going on to Ramsgrange Community School and to college in Cork where she studied a law course. In her youth she played football with Clongeen.
She worked in the fish factory in New Ross when it was open and in the fish factory in Kilmore Quay.
Tears welled in his eyes as he recalled the conversations the three would share in the house.
‘She would go into great detail about everything, from politics to sport. Anne was a quiet going person who never got into any scrapes. She always looked after Sylvester to the best of her ability. She lived all her life here with me and Ellen and Sylvester.’
Anne enjoyed travelling and had visited Australia, America and England. She also loved driving in her car and would often take Sylvester out for drives.
‘The car was her God. Every day she wanted to go off for a spin.’
Myles said Sylvester suffered from ill health as a child.
‘He had a rough time of it over the years. He had an operation when he was seven on a tumour in his head. He pulled out of that and recovered but last Christmas he got a stroke.
‘He worked at Wallace’s for 21 years and he loved it but he had to give it up. He was in and out of hospital attending doctors and getting scans in Cork, Wexford and Waterford, He missed the work.’
Sylvester attended Clongeen NS and St Iberius school in Wexford.
‘They got the job for him at Wallace’s and he never looked back. He wouldn’t miss a day. He’d go out in snow or hail and was always on time.’
Sylvester was a devoted Liverpool fan and never missed a game.
‘If you were ever looking for him you’d find him watching a soccer or hurling match on the telly in his bedroom.’
Over recent months Sylvester attended Grantstown Day Care Centre where he would play cards and pongo with the elderly residents during the morning and early afternoon.
‘He was a gentle soul; he always had a smile and a laugh. He used to enjoy the hurling and he would often have a bet with his work mates. He would be thrilled when he won.’
Myles said he did not see Anne or Sylvester on Wednesday morning as they left early.
He thanked people in the Clongeen community for their tremendous support.
Eyes downcast, he said: ‘The house has gotten empty. It will be that way for all of my time.’
He said gardaí told him at his childern’s wake that the investigation is ongoing. ‘I heard one of the drivers broke four fingers. The investigation is ongoing, but it’s not going to bring back my two lads.’
Both Anne and Sylvester’s remains reposed at Ryan’s Funeral Home in Wellingtonbridge prior to their removal on Friday to St. Aidans Church, Clongeen.
A massive crowd attended their Funeral Mass on Saturday and burial afterwards in the New Cemetery, Clongeen.
May they rest in peace.