Mayo nurse was killed by car after leaving funeral

THE 55-year-old Mayo nurse killed in a road accident last night (Thursday) after leaving a house where the remains of a cherished friend were reposing has been named as Mary Mulhern of Sheridan Park, Bohola, writes Tom Shiel.

A single woman who cared for her elderly mother in Bohola, Ms. Mulhern died after being struck by a passing car on the N5 at Bohola. She died at the scene despite attempts by paramedics and other medical personnel to save her.

The local community in Bohola is numbed by the death of the popular health care worker as well as the nature of her passing.

Ms. Mulhern had just left a house in Barley Hill, Bohola, on the outskirts of the village, where prayers were being said for a neighbour, Philomena Aitken, prior to the removal of her remains to the local Church of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph.

Local Parish Priest Fr. Stephen O'Mahony met Mary Mulhern at the 'corpse house' prior to the tragedy. Later, around 7.45 p.m., he was summonsed to give the last rites to her on the roadside as medical personnel battled to save her.

“I was talking to Mary,” an obviously upset Fr. O'Mahony said today (Friday) prior to officiating at the funeral Mass for Mrs. Aitken. “She said she was going home to make tea for her mother.”

Ms. Mulhern, formerly from the Ballyvary area, lived in Bohola with her mother, Betty, who is in her 90s. The deceased was a popular member of the nursing staff at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar.

The male driver of the car involved in the collision was interviewed afterwards by gardaí. According to gardaí, the car involved was being driven in an easterly direction on the N5 towards Swinford.

Ms. Mulhern's remains were brought to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar for a post-mortem examination.

Gardaí in Swinford are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. You can contact Swinford Garda Station at (094) 9252990 or any station.