TRAGIC FAMILY PAYS TRIBUTE
Daughter of grandmother who died with partner in cart plunge thanks Irish people for comfort
THE family of the two tourists killed in a horrific pony-and-trap crash in Kerry have thanked the Irish people for their ‘support’ and ‘kindness’ at this tragic time. American grandmother Rosalyn Joy Few, 64, and her Canadian partner Normand Larose, 62, died instantly on Monday in a devastating 17ft plunge on to rocks during a pony-and-cart trek at the Gap of Dunloe,
Ms Few’s daughter Tonya, who came upon the shocking scene at the beauty spot with her children and husband, told the Irish Daily Mail
that she wished to thank the Irish people for their support at this very difficult time.
‘I suppose, what we want to say now is thank you to the rescue teams and the support from the Irish people. We would also like to thank the Garda liaison team and the hotel staff who have been supporting us,’ she said yesterday.
The daughter and her family were travelling directly behind Ms Few’s and Mr Larose’s pony and trap on Monday afternoon. Ms Few’s daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were in a separate cart and came across the awful scene moments after the accident.
Yesterday, they were comforting one another at a hotel in Killarney as they made plans to travel home to Arizona once the postmortems have taken place.
Mr Larose, who is originally from Quebec in Canada, will be sorely missed by those who knew him, his niece Maude Larose said.
‘My uncle was a very happy person who loved life very much. He always took care of the people he loved, the whole family is shocked by this tragedy,’ she said.
Meanwhile, a Garda investigation is ongoing into the tragedy, with officers still trying to establish the exact cause of the crash.
Last night, new information emerged where it is understood that just before the accident, the cart was travelling along a narrow part of the road – around 100 yards after a stone bridge and on an incline.
The Mail understands gardaí now
‘Nothing to suggest he was spooked’
do not believe the horse bolted or collided with any object on the road. However, for some reason the horse, who was experienced, lost his footing, stumbled and went over the edge. ‘There is nothing to suggest he was spooked at this stage,’ a Garda source said in reference to a previous report.
Yesterday, members of the Garda technical unit were still examining the road where the tragedy unfolded.
Visible skid marks could be seen on the edge of the road where the trap driver, a local jarvey, had tried to bring the cart under control.
Two yellow circles were also on the road, below at the spot where the cart impacted with the rocks.
Bunches of flowers and two lanterns were left as tributes to the tragic couple.
Postmortems are expected to be concluded today on the bodies of Ms Few and her partner. Locally, Killarney gardaí have assigned a garda liaison officer to help family members, who are staying in a Killarney hotel, deal with the tragedy and the formalities and arrangements that now have to be made.
The couple were based in Arizona and were in the lead party of three traps carrying family members who were coming down the narrow mountain pass towards Kate Kearney’s Cottage, a local bar and craft shop, when the accident occurred.
The trap driver, referred to locally as a ponyman, is a man in his 40s. He managed to exit as it went down the approximately 17ft drop to rocks below.
The driver normally sits at the rear of his trap, which may explain his survival. The shocked ponyman received medical attention at University Hospital Kerry and was later released.
Superintendent Flor Murphy, of Killarney Garda Station, said a trip of a lifetime in one of the most beautiful parts of the country had turned to sadness.
‘It is very, very sad. It is very, very tragic. We just don’t know why the horse and cart went off the road at that point,’ Supt Murphy said. He paid tribute to the volunteers of the Kerry Mountain Rescue who helped gardaí in the recovery of the bodies in difficult and challenging conditions.
Supt Murphy extended the condolences of the gardaí, the emergency services and the residents of the Black Valley, to the family of the deceased.
Following the incident, ponyand-trap operations are to face a review over the coming months, it emerged last night.
The Department of Transport said last night it expects Kerry County Council, which regulates the decades-old industry, to review it following Monday’s tragedy.
A spokesman for the Department said last night: ‘Jaunting cars and traps are permitted under byelaws adopted by the relevant local authority. Kerry County Council is the statutory road authority responsible for the public road at the Gap of Dunloe.
‘As the statutory road authority, Kerry County Council is responsible for the maintenance and management of its road network, including this public road at the Gap of Dunloe.
‘The Department expects that the council will be reviewing the position in light of recent events.’
Jarvies, those at the reins of the pony and carts, are licensed by Kerry County Council.
Killarney mayor Niall Kelleher, expressed his condolences to the family. ‘The whole community is in shock from this tragic accident. It’s been a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the family,’ he said.
Last night, there were sombre scenes outside the family-run Kate Kearney’s Cottage as locals gathered to pray for the deceased. A Mass will be held today in memory of the deceased in Killarney.