Colleagues laud 'bubbly' woman killed at Cavan rally

A PREGNANT woman who was killed while watching a rally in Cavan at the weekend has been described as having a bubbly, outgoing…

A PREGNANT woman who was killed while watching a rally in Cavan at the weekend has been described as having a bubbly, outgoing personality by management at the restaurant where she was employed in the last few weeks of her life.

Caroline Cleary (29) started working at Niall’s restaurant in the Riverview Shopping Centre in Bandon, Co Cork, six weeks ago and was scheduled to work yesterday morning.

Ms Cleary had moved from Wexford to Enniskeane in west Cork in recent months to be with her partner, rally co-driver Seán Hayde.

Peter Moloney, manager of Niall’s restaurant, yesterday extended his condolences to her family.

READ MORE

“It is very sad. She was only with us for five or six weeks. She had a great personality. We all got on well with her. She was working here full time, having moved from Wexford. It is a shock for us all. She will be sadly missed.”

Co-workers said Ms Cleary was an approachable woman with a friendly and open manner.

Don McCarthy, manager of the Riverview Shopping Centre, said workers and shoppers at the centre had been deeply saddened by the news of her death.

“She was only with us a few weeks but everyone I have spoken to is very upset about it. She was very well liked.”

Ms Cleary was originally from Tagoat, Co Wexford. She had been involved in motor sports for more than 10 years, taking part in the Cork Forest Rally just last month.

Ms Cleary was killed at a Cavan rally on Sunday when a car hit a hump in the road and spun out of control, careering into a group of spectators.

Sports photographer Joe Lane (50) from Galway also died in the incident.