Ardee road victims named.

The two women who died in last night's accident at Hunterstown, Ardee have been names as cousins, Josie Duff and Kathy McDonald.
The close knit community of Ardee is devasted by the tragic deaths of the  two women who died when they were hit by a car at Hunterstown after getting off a bus from Dublin.

They are believed to have been trying to cross the road on the main N2 at Hunterstown to the car park at 6.25 on Monday evening when they were hit by a single vehicle.

Emergency services attended but both women were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were removed by hearse to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for post-mortems.The driver of the vehicle was treated at the scene for shock but was not injured. The N2 at Hunterstown was closed on Monday night and remained closed for a considerable period on Tuesday for Garda technical examinations.

The woman were well known locally and were first cousins. They would regularly accompany each other on trips and outings.

Ardee Parish Priest, Canon Peter Murphy said it was sad to think that Monday was their last trip to Dublin together.

Josie was involved with the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Ardee Hospice, while Kathy worked in Moorehall Lodge Nursing Home, Ardee.

Cllr Jim Tenanty said the whole community was in shock at the tragedy.“We extend our deepest sympathies to their families,” he said.“Josie was a great woman for the local community and Kathy's husband Seamus died around a year ago.

'I also want to sympathise with the driver of the car and his family and commend the work of the emergency services who were swiftly on the scene,' he added.

Canon Murphy said the entire community was completely numbed by the tragedy of it all.'They were women of faith and have good families. Words cannot express our sympathy for their real pain and hardship.

'They were both lively ladies and great friends. They were great family women and loved the people close to them. They were both mothers and grandmothers.

'Josie is suirvived by her husband, John, and Kathy's husband passed away last April.

'It was tough going to their homes. What can one say when hearts are so suddenly broken in grief.'

'There is such a sense of numbness and speechlessness in the community today,' he said.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact Ardee Station on 041 687 1130 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.