Boy (12) killed in collision between car and train in Ballyhaunis named locally

The 12-year-old boy, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

LAST UPDATE | 4 Sep

A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY who was killed after a train and a car collided at a level crossing in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on Thursday night has been named locally as Eoin Doyle.

Shortly after 8.45pm, gardaí and emergency services responded to the collision at a user-operated level crossing in Kiltybo, near Ballyhaunis.

The boy, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car, Eoin’s father Declan, was taken from the scene by ambulance for hospital treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Local Fine Gael councillor Alma Gallagher told The Journal the two are from a very well-known family in the area and that the community of Ballyhaunis was “united in grief” this morning.

She said the family is “at the heart” of the local GAA club and expressed her condolences to the boy’s family and neighbours.

Local parish priest Father Stephen Farragher told RTÉ’s News at One programme that he attended the scene of the crash, where he said some prayers.

“There’s a real air of shock and sadness,” he said. “For all involved it’s just a terrible, terrible time.”

He said the family are keen GAA enthusiasts and that the boy was coming back from training when the crash occurred.

He said the community has been “coping as best they can” today.

“The thoughts and prayers of everybody in this community and beyond are with the family at the moment, because it’s every parent’s nightmare.”

Ballyhaunis GAA Club has announced that “all activities, training and matches are suspended until further notice as our members come to terms with the tragic loss of life last night”.

LR TRAIN CRASH _3849 The road leading to the scene blocked off by emergency services Rollingnews Rollingnews

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien described the incident as “an absolute tragedy” while speaking to David McCullagh on RTÉ this morning.

“Any support that we can give will be given,” he said, adding that the collision was being investigated. He said incidents like these were “extremely rare”.

Minister for Road Safety Seán Canney extended his “deepest sympathies to the families affected by this horrific collision”.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Canney said his thoughts are also with the train driver.

There were two collisions on the line on Thursday and Canney said it was “frightening” that this could happen.

“Hopefully we will see what caused these accidents, so that we can prevent them in the future,” said Canney.

“Rail is a very safe mode of transport and these incidents are very rare, but they are very tragic.”

In a statement this morning, Irish Rail expressed its “deepest sympathies to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life”.

Irish Rail said the 6.05pm Heuston to Westport service struck a car in which the boy was travelling at XM160 level crossing at Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

Irish Rail also thanked the emergency services “for the professionalism and care shown to those involved”.

A spokesperson added that Irish Rail “immediately commenced a full investigation into the incident and has advised the relevant authorities”.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Road users and pedestrians with camera footage, including dash-cam, who were in the area of Kiltybo, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on Thursday are asked to make this footage available.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballina garda station on (096) 20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

A garda spokesperson said all passengers on the train safely disembarked, and onward transport was arranged.

A technical examination of the scene was carried out by forensic collision investigators. The rail line has since reopened.

Tullamore

The Ballyhaunis collision came after a man was hospitalised earlier on Thursday when a train collided with a tractor in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Irish Rail said that incident happened at around 3.50pm at a “user worked level crossing” used by the man, who is a farmer, to access the lands either side of the track.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

- Reporting from Jane Moore, David Mac Redmond and Diarmuid Pepper