A week of terrible sadness on roads as children die

THE tragic death of little Brandon Lee Smith following a car crash outside Ashbourne last week plunged the country into mourning.

Seven months-old Brandon lost his fight for life in the early hours of Wednesday morning despite intensive efforts by doctors in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to save his life.

The accident occurred at around 6pm on Tuesday evening of last week when the car in which he was travelling was stopped on the roadside between Ashbourne and Slane. It is understood the car had stopped to allow another child go to the toilet when it was struck from behind by a van.

The seven-month-old toddler was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital for treatment, but died several hours later.

Brandon and his mother Louise Smith were on their way home to Knockbridge in Co Louth with other extended family members when the accident occurred.

There was heartbreak on Friday morning when the child was buried in a tiny white coffin in Drumconrath following Mass at the Church of Ss Peter and Paul.

Gardai are appealing for anyone who was travelling between Balrath Cross and Kilmoon Cross on the N2 last Thursday evening and who may have witnessed the collision to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on (01) 801 0600.

Meanwhile, the community in Kilcock is also this week attempting to come to terms with the tragic loss of school-friends Michaela Logan (9) and Ava Carberry-Varden (6) following a horrific car crash in Longford last week.

Michaela from The Paddocks, Kilcock, and Ava, who lived at Ryebridge, both died after the car in which they were passengers hit an embankment on the outskirts of Edgeworthstown on Monday 26th November.

Both girls were pupils of Scoil Choca Naofa in Kilcock. Ava and her family had been planning a move to her mother's native Longford when the tragedy happened.

There were heartbreaking scenes at St Coca's Church last Thursday, where Michaela's funeral took place.

A packed church remembered the little girl and gifts brought up to the altar included a family photograph, a Bratz doll, a recorder and a CD of Dolly Parton. There were also messages and paintings from her classmates at the entrance of the church.

Very Rev PJ Byrne PP celebrated the funeral mass. Speaking this week, Fr Byrne said: "Renewed strength of unity and togetherness carried and strengthened both the Logan family, the Carberry family and the Kilcock community on the occasion of their recent shared sadness with the death of Michaela and Ava.

He said the church had been thronged on Thursday and that family and parishioners supported each other "in faith, family and friendship".

Fr Byrne said Michaela's mother, Michelle, is being comforted and supported in the midst of her sadness and is asking for prayers and support for her four-year-old son, John, who is making satisfactory progress at the Children's Hospital in Crumlin, as is Ava's older sister, Faith Carberry, also a pupil of Scoil Choca Naofa.