Gardaí still investigating death of woman in SUV collision

GARDAÍ are seeking more information on how a mother-of-two died in a car crash almost three weeks ago in Cork.

Sheila Dunne, who was in her 50s and worked as a special needs assistant in a primary school, died after the vehicle she was in crashed in Glanmire on February 11.

Ms Dunne and a second woman were travelling in an SUV which appeared to have rolled over and was found on its side following the crash at Sarsfield Court.

Cork City Fire Service had to cut off the roof of the vehicle to access the women, as the back of the vehicle could not be opened. The car had rolled onto the driver’s seat side, according to emergency services.

Three fire crew members assisted with efforts to resuscitate Ms Dunne as she was transported to Cork University Hospital, where she tragically died two days later.

Ms Dunne is understood to have been found on the driver’s seat side of the vehicle, but gardaí are now investigating whether she may have actually been a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The other woman who was in the car with Ms Dunne was not seriously injured in the crash.

An incident room has been established in Glanmire Garda Station and officers are now combing through hours of CCTV footage as part of the investigation.

A garda statement said there were no arrests at this time, but investigations are ongoing.

Gardaí continue to appeal for any witnesses to this collision to contact them.

“Any road users or pedestrians who were in the vicinity of Sarsfield Court, and who observed a white SUV vehicle travelling in the area at the time of the incident, is asked to contact investigating gardaí,” a statement read.

“Anyone with camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to investigating gardaí.”

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Glanmire Garda Station at 021 4556370, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, or any garda station.

Ms Dunne’s late husband, well-known local DJ Ted Dunne, died three years ago.

Ms Dunne was described as “pure and beautiful” and “the most amazing human I ever had the privilege to know” by people who knew her.

“Sheila touched the lives of so many during her time here on earth. Her kindness and regard for others was outstanding,” one mourner wrote on RIP.ie following her death.

This story first appeared at Irish Examiner .