TWO FAMILIES HEARTBROKEN BY TRAGEDIES
ONE-YEAR-OLD TODDLER DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY CAR AT SILVERBRIDGE HALTING SITE YOUNG WOMAN DIES JUST THREE YEARS AFTER FIRE CLAIMED LIFE OF HER TWIN SISTER
THERE was devastation in Bray last week as two young lives were lost in separate tragic incidents.
Toddler Bernard John Cash Joyce (1) died on the evening of Tuesday, July 17, when he was struck by a car. Gardaí are treating the death as a very unfortunate accident. The little boy’s funeral took place in the Holy Redeemer on Friday morning, before he was laid to rest at Springfield Cemetery.
That same morning, news emerged of the death of Amanda Gilbert (29), whose twin sister Tara was one of 10 people who died in the Carrickmines fire tragedy in 2015.
Amanda’s funeral took place at the Queen of Peace in Little Bray on Monday. Mourners heard that she never got over the loss of her sister and the other victims.
A BELOVED toddler who died in a tragic accident was laid to rest at Springfield Cemetery in Bray last Friday morning.
Bernard John Cash Joyce (1) died after he was struck by a car at the Silverbridge halting site on the N11 on the evening of Tuesday, July 17.
A large number of mourners attended Bernard’s funeral at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on the Main Street in Bray prior to the burial at the Killarney Road graveyard.
Bernard is survived by his mother Bernadette Cash, father Bernard Joyce and his extended family.
The little boy was rushed to hospital following the incident last Tuesday but was later pronounced dead at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. The scene was sealed off following the collision and gardaí carried out a forensic examination.
Gardaí in Bray said that they are treating the sad death as a very unfortunate accident.
Jim O’Brien of Bray Travellers Community Development Group said that the child’s parents and entire family are distraught.
He said that the death has taken its toll on the family, the Traveller community, and the community of Bray, all of whom grieve together.
‘We’re trying to get through as best we can,’ said Jim.
Silverbridge was the first halting site in County Wicklow and is 26 years in existence.
Last year, Wicklow County Council announced its intention to upgrade the site to a housing scheme, converting five day units and a caretaker unit.