Tributes paid to pensioner (66) killed in Athlone crash

Sean Ryan

Tributes have been paid to a pensioner who was killed in a two-vehicle collision on the N55 at The Pigeons, between Athlone and Ballymahon on Thursday morning.

The deceased, who has been named locally as Tom Walsh (66) from Willow Crescent, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was driving one of the two cars involved in the collision, and had a male passenger in his 80s with him.

Mr Walsh, who was the driver of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was taken to Tullamore hospital where a post-mortem will take place in due course. Locals said Tom worked with a lot of local farmers and also did some maintenance work at Centre Parcs.

Local Councillor Paul Ross (FG), who is a former Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, described Tom as an absolute gentleman.

He said ''Tom worked on a number of farms around the area and was very well known. There is huge shock in the Ballymahon area at this tragedy. We are all thinking of Tom and his friends at this time’’.

A Garda press office statement said the passenger in the car was also brought to Tullamore hospital to receive treatment for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The male driver of the other car, also in his 80s, was brought to hospital in Tullamore but his injuries, too, are not thought to be life-threatening.

A technical examination of the crash scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators was carried out this afternoon.

An incident room was set up at Athlone Garda Station in response to the fatal accident, and is being coordinated by the Garda Divisional Traffic Inspector. Gardai have also issued a public appeal for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage, and were travelling in the area between 10:15am and 11:15am today are being asked to make this footage available to the gardaí.

Anyone with any information can contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 649 2600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.