Man dies after falling while preparing for mother’s funeral

A Co Roscommon man who was critically injured in a fall from a ladder as he prepared for his mother’s funeral has died in hospital.

Married father of three young children, Patrick (Pa) Bowens suffered severe head injuries when he fell from the ladder at his mother’s home in Cloonfad, Co Roscommon on Monday.

Mr Bowens, who was in his 40s and from Pollanalty, Cloonfad, was erecting lights at his mother’s home shortly after hearing of her unexpected death in hospital in Dublin.

The lights were intended to facilitate mourners who would be calling to her home to sympathise with the family.

He was transferred by air ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he passed away.

He is survived by wife Elaine, his children Jason, Adam and Ciara, his father Sean, brothers and sister.

His remains will repose in Cloonfad on Friday evening and burial will take place on Saturday in the local cemetery following the funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad.

His mother Mary’s funeral Mass also took place in the church in Cloonfad on Thursday and burial followed in the local cemetery. She is survived by her husband Sean and family.