Tributes pour in for 'pure gentleman' motorcyclist killed in Limerick collision

David Raleigh

Tributes were paid Thursday to a young man killed off a motorcycle in Co Limerick, Wednesday night.

The victim, named locally as Jack O’Donoghue, (33), Askeaton, Co Limerick, died when his motorcycle left the N69 at Cloonreask, Askeaton, shortly before 8pm, Wednesday.

No other vehicle was involved in the tragic incident, gardaí said.

Josh Sheahan, a local publican, and a close friend of Mr O’Donoghue, paid a heartfelt tribute to him.

“We were best fiends since play-school and he was an absolute gent. He always had my back and like I say, he was a pure gentleman,” said Mr Sheahan.

“We were best friends all our lives and it is a massive shock,” he said.

Mr Sheahan said Mr O’Donoghue was looking forward to a going on a short holiday with his girlfriend to Rome, Italy, on Friday.

“He was only out for a handy drive and an accident happened. He will be a massive loss to me, he was like a brother to me all my life,” Mr Sheehan said.

“He was a qualified electrician, he loved his bikes - he loved dirt biking, he loved his motor bikes, he was just a fierce easy-going chap, a normal everyday fella.”

Mr Sheahan said Mr O’Donoghue will also be fondly remembered by his friends and family as “a very good soccer player, and goalkeeper, which he had to give up because he damaged his knee”.

“He was a fierce sound young lad, he would have been 34 in October, and he will be a massive loss to the community.”

Local Fine Gael county councillor, Adam Teskey, said the Askeaton community was “in a deep sadness” at the sudden and tragic events of Wednesday night.

“Our hearts pour out to all of the O’Donoghue family who are all well known and respected in Askeaton, there is an immense sense of sadness here,” Cllr Teskey said.

Mr O’Donoghue is survived by his parents, Mary, and Jimmy, chairperson of the Askeaton community council, and his siblings Ann and James.

The road remained closed Thursday to allow a Garda Collision Investigator conduct a forensic examination at the scene.

Appealing for witnesses to the fatal single vehicle collision, a garda spokesman said: “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N69, near Askeaton, between 7.15pm and 8.15pm, are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.

Investigating gardai can be contacted at Newcastle West Garda Station (069-20650), or the Garda Confidential Line (1800-666-111), or any Garda Station.