Road death victim was always ‘kind and helpful’

ALWAYS ‘kind and helpful’ is how colleagues of the late Mary Purcell described her after she was tragically killed in a road collision near Listowel on Monday afternoon.

From Woodford near Listowel, Ms Purcell, in her 50s, was the sole occupant in the car and died when it collided with a truck coming in the opposite direction shortly after 2pm on Monday afternoon on the Duagh Road, close to where she lived in Woodford, 2km from Listowel.

Ms Purcell died at the scene and the road was closed for a time following the accident as Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene. The male driver of the truck was not injured and the deceased was removed to UHK.

Gardaí in Listowel are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Mary Purcell worked as a secretary at Tom Quilter’s Veterinary Clinic in Listowel for a number of years and was an integral member of the staff there. “Our loss is great, but it is insignificant compared to the loss to her family,” a staff member told The Kerryman.

“Mary was a kind, helpful and a most efficient person and is well remembered by our clients, as evidenced by the messages of sympathy we have received. Our sincerest sympathies are with her family at this difficult time.”

Monday’s fatality is the second road death in north Kerry in just over a week. It follows the death of a motorcyclist on the Coast Road between Tarbert and Glin on December 30.

Ms Purcell is a daughter of Julie and the late Robert - a family very much involved in their local church at Listowel. She is also survived by her brothers John, James and Robert, and sisters Elizabeth, Julie and Clare.