Woman dies as car strikes pedestrians

A 53-YEAR-OLD woman who was active in the scouts was killed and a scout leader seriously injured when a driver crashed a car into a group of pedestrians in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Anne Fitzsimons, a mother of 15-year-old twins, died and Tom McKiernan suffered head injuries when the car struck them on the Malahide Road in Fairview at about 2.15am.

Three other people suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Ms Fitzsimons, from Brian Avenue, Marino, was heavily involved in the 1st Dublin Fairview scout group, while Mr McKiernan is the group leader.

The driver of the silver Volkswagen car, a man in his 30s, was arrested at the scene. He was taken to the Mater hospital with minor injuries.

He was later released without charge and investigations are continuing.

Locals say the group were returning from a late drink in Kavanagh’s pub in Fairview after a successful cake sale on Saturday for the local scout troop.

They were hit by the car which was going towards Fairview. The force of the impact also knocked over a pole.

Floral tributes were left for Ms Fitzsimons on the railings opposite where yesterday morning’s crash occurred.

Mairéad Greally, who was part of a dog-walking circle with Ms Fitzsimons, said she had been “one of the nicest people you could meet”.

“She never had a falling out with anybody. Anne was just adorable, she was never, ever without a smile on her face,” Ms Greally said.

“Everybody was just ringing one another about it. We’re all shocked.”

Scouting Ireland’s chief scout Michael John Shinnick said the organisation was “devastated” by the death of Ms Fitzsimons and the serious injuries which occurred to Mr McKiernan.

He said: “The passing of such a long-serving and dedicated scouter is a huge loss to her husband Paddy, children Claire and Patrick, and her family.

“She will leave a tremendous void in her community and in particular for those young people she dedicated her life to.”

Ms Fitzsimons became the 205th person to die on Irish roads this year, which is 42 fewer than this time last year.

About 1,000 people turned up in Knock, Co Mayo, yesterday for a service to remember the victims of road traffic accidents.

Memorial services were held throughout the country to mark World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims.

This has been held for the last 15 years on the third Sunday in November.

A total of 22,646 people have died on Irish roads since the records first began to be kept 50 years ago.

In Co Limerick, over 200 pupils from John the Baptist Community School in Hospital held a march.

Each pupil who participated carried a balloon for each person who has died on the roads in Ireland this year.