A PRIEST called yesterday for signposting and remedial works at a dangerous bend that claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage daughter at the weekend.
Fr Michael Flynn, parish priest of Knockmore, Ballina, Co Mayo, said at the funeral Mass for Sandra Herbert (40) and her daughter Rachel (13) that the spot where their car left the road and entered a stream can be slippery even in non-frosty conditions.
Temperatures locally were close to zero at about 9pm on Friday when the car driven by Ms Herbert left the road and somersaulted at Rathbaun, Cloghans, ending upside down in a stream.
“The bend can be deceptive, even when clear of frost,” Fr Flynn told an overflow congregation at the double funeral Mass at the Church of Christ the King in Knockmore yesterday afternoon.
The priest called on Mayo County Council and the Road Safety Authority to take action to make the road safer and to erect warning signs.
Fr Flynn described the effect of the sudden double tragedy on the local community as akin to a power blackout.
“One moment we were all very happy, the next we were plunged into darkness and despair.”
Three teenage friends who survived the crash attended the funeral Mass, clinging to each other throughout for comfort.
Fr Flynn said the girls had endured “a frightening ordeal”, and commended them for their actions afterwards in raising the alarm.
James Herbert, who lost his wife and only daughter in the tragedy, was joined in the front pews by his sons Darragh and Ryan.
In a brief address to mourners, Mr Herbert thanked the community for their enormous support over the last few harrowing days.
He mentioned that Rachel would have celebrated her 14th birthday on Sunday night next and that undoubtedly a disco was planned.
Ten concelebrants joined Fr Flynn on the altar for the funeral Mass.
The Church of Ireland was represented at the ceremony by Rev Andrea Wills.
Staff of the Road Safety Authority in Ballina, where Sandra Herbert worked as an executive officer, turned out in large numbers again yesterday for the funeral. The RSA representation included chief executive Noel Brett.
In the early afternoon, amid sleet, hail and gusting winds, the double funeral cortege made its way to Ballinahaglish Cemetery, where the remains were lowered to their last resting place.