Child dies in accident on family farm

Infant was hit by a vehicle

A RURAL community ‘numb with shock’ last night after a little boy was knocked down and killed in a tragic accident on a farm.

It is understood the child, named locally as 18-month-old Billy Bennett, died on his parent’s farm in Johnswell, Co. Kilkenny, after he was hit by a vehicle yesterday.

Last night, parish priest Fr Frank Purcell said the child’s mother and father – who were also named locally as Elaine and Johnny Bennett – were heartbroken as they tried to come to terms with their loss.

Describing the family as well-liked and respectable, Fr Purcell added: ‘This is an absolutely unbelievable tragedy. It is such a terrible accident. The pain that the parents are going through must be unimaginable. ‘The whole place is devastated. ‘It’s unbelievable and our hearts and our prayers go out to them.

‘The community will be there to provide strength and support at what must be for them a very dark time in their lives.’

Billy has two older brothers and a sister, and locals last night said the Bennett family were well-regarded dairy farmers. Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Fitzpatrick said: ‘Everyone is numb with shock.

‘It’s a terrible tragedy for that family and for the whole community.’

Health and Safety Authority inspectors travelled to the scene yesterday and will compile a report.

Gardaí last night confirmed that a child was fatally injured at a family farm in Co. Kilkenny. A Garda spokesman said: ‘At around 3.20pm the emergency services were called to an incident in Johnswell, Co. Kilkenny, where a one-year-old child had passed away.’

The spokesman added the tragic incident is now under investigation.

A post-mortem was due to be performed last night at University Hospital in Waterford.

Meanwhile, an eight-year-old boy was in critical condition in hospital last night after he was knocked down by a car in Co. Meath.

It is understood he was struck shortly after 3pm as he crossed the Kells Road in Navan.

The child was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Co. Louth.

Local councillor Wayne Forde last night said the boy’s hometown was ‘praying’ for his recovery.

Mr Forde added that the accident occurred in the same area where a young boy was killed last year.

He said he will be calling on the council’s engineers to ‘look at making this crossing safer’.