A “loving” dad and his “cherished son” have been identified as the two men who tragically lost their lives in a two-vehicle collision.
The local community has named the victims of the “unimaginable tragedy” as Peter Devlin and his son Loughlin Devlin.
The devastating incident happened at around 12.45pm on Friday, December 27, and left four others injured – including a baby and a woman in a critical condition. The collision, involving an Audi and a Mercedes, occurred on the Killylea Road in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, reports the Mirror.
A Requiem Mass for the late father and his son is due to be held on New Year’s Day at noon, at the Church of St Joseph, Tynan. The parish priest, Father Sean Moore, expressed the community’s shock to the BBC, stating: “It is an awful shock to the community, the community is in total shock.”
Loughlin Devlin, a married father-of-one from Milford, and his dad Peter, a father-of-four, are mourned in family notices. Loughlin is remembered as the “beloved husband to Shauna and loving father of Brodie, cherished son of Ursula and the late Peter and brother of Frankie, may they rest in peace”. Peter is honoured as the “beloved husband to Ursula (nee Guy) and loving father of Frankie and the late Loughlin and son of the late Sean and Brigid”
The Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council declared the festive joy had been terribly marred by a horrific incident, with Councillor Sarah Duffy expressing: “This Christmas season, which is meant to bring families together in joy and celebration, has been overshadowed by an unimaginable tragedy in our community. Today, we mourn the heartbreaking loss of lives due to a devastating road traffic collision.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who are facing this pain, especially at this time of year. We cannot begin to comprehend the depth of their loss, and we stand with them in their grief.”
She paid tribute to the emergency responders: “I want to thank the emergency services, who responded swiftly and with immense professionalism under these difficult circumstances.”
The Mayor emphasised the sobering reality of road safety during the holidays: “This tragedy is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety, especially during the holiday season when our roads are often busier. I urge everyone to take extra care, whether driving, cycling, or walking, and to ensure that we protect ourselves and those around us.”
In the face of sadness, she reminded the community’s role: “As a community, we will come together to support those affected in the very sad times ahead.”
A police representative confirmed the grim news: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland can confirm that two men have sadly died following a two vehicle road traffic collision on the Killylea Road outside Killylea, County Armagh.”
Inspector Cherith Adair, of the Collision Investigation Unit, made an urgent plea for witnesses following a fatal crash where two lost their lives: “Police received a report shortly before 12:45pm yesterday, Friday 27th December, of a collision involving a dark grey Audi and a black Mercedes. Officers attended, alongside our colleagues from partner emergency services. Both men died at the scene. Four others, including a baby, were taken to hospital for medical treatment.”
In an appeal for more information, Adair added: “Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances of the collision, and would like to hear from witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam or other footage which could assist with our enquiries. You can call 101 and quote reference 740 of 27/12/24.”
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