Schoolboy (16) loses fight for life as priest killed in separate road crash
A FAMILY has been left heartbroken after a 16-yearold boy, who was knocked down yards from his home, died in hospital.
Dane Loakman, from the Castlefen estate, in Sallins, Co Kildare, was crossing the main Clane Road at around 7.40am on Monday when tragedy struck. It is understood he was trying to catch his bus to school when he was hit by a van heading towards Clane.
A car being driven in the opposite direction then collided with Dane and he ended up under the bus, which was waiting at the bus stop. His mother was looking on from the front door at the time.
Dane suffered devastating injuries and was rushed to Naas General Hospital, before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
His injuries were too grave to survive and he died on Tuesday evening.
Floral tributes, candles, and a Liverpool scarf were placed by grieving friends at the spot opposite Dane’s house where he was knocked down. On Facebook, his brothers Codey and Vinny and mother Alison posted tributes to Dane.
The Sallins Celtic soccer club, which Dane played for, also posted a moving tribute on its Facebook page.
“It is with great regret we find ourselves posting our condolences to the family of Dane Loakman..
“Dane was a part of our club just like his mother Alison and brother – a great energetic and well mannered kid who will be sadly missed and remembered by us all,” it said.
The drivers of the van and car were uninjured in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, an elderly priest was killed yesterday evening when his car collided with an articulated truck in Co Monaghan.
The collision took place on the N2 on approach to Carrickmacross, Monaghan, shortly before 5pm. The driver of the car was last night named locally as Fr Joe McCluskey from St Enda’s Parish in Killanny.
He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after the crash.
It is understood Fr McCluskey (78) had been visiting elderly local residents throughout the day.
Carrickmacross Councillor Padraig McNally told the Irish Independent it was an “extremely sad day” for everyone in the parish. Cllr McNally described Fr McCluskey as a “lovely, humble man”.