Community devastated by tragic death

THE parish of Barna/Furbo is in shock this week after the road tragedy at the weekend that claimed the life of a 22-year-old local woman and left another young woman seriously injured.

Cliodhna Thornton (22), from Coismeigmór, Furbo, died in the early hours on Sunday morning last after the side-door of the van she was travelling in, opened as the vehicle turned off the N59 Galway-Clifden road towards Barna in the townland of Tooreeny.

The Ford Transit van, with six passengers on board, had been travelling from the Moycullen direction and was in the process of turning off for Barna/Furbo when the door opened and the two 22-year-old women fell from the vehicle.

The accident occurred at approximately 2.20am on Sunday morning, and later, emergency services were on the scene where both women were rushed to University Hospital Galway (UHG).

Later on, that morning, Cliodhna Thornton died at UHG – it is understood that the second woman, originally from the North Galway area, is now in a stable condition at UHG and is making a good recovery.

Gardai investigating the circumstances of the accident are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, and over the coming week or so, a file is expected to be prepared for forwarding to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions).

Anyone that can assist Gardai with their investigation of the accident have been asked to contact Salthill Garda Station on 091-514720, where a special incident centre has been established since Sunday.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.