Two elderly Cork people died on Wednesday after their car went out of control at Burnfort Bridge, near Mallow. The dead driver was named as Mr Jeremiah Burke (77), of Ballyhesta, Carrignavar, Co Cork, and the dead passenger was Ms Abina O'Donoghue (60), of Bawnleigh, also of Carrignavar. Another passenger, Ms Lily Cahill, who is in her 50s and from Bottlehill, Co Cork, was in intensive care in a local hospital last night. Her condition was described as comfortable.
The two people who died were neighbours and friends. Ms O'Donoghue was the mother of nine children - five daughters and four sons; Mr Burke was the father of four sons and five daughters. Ms O'Donoghue is survived by her husband, Michael, and Mr Burke by his wife, Nora.
The accident occurred just before midnight when the car apparently struck a bridge parapet on a narrow road. The car went out of control and dropped onto the river bed, landing on its roof. Ms Cahill somehow managed to free herself from the wreck and was able to flag down a passing car.
The three were returning from a 45-card drive at Mourneabbey Community Hall in Co Cork. Mr Burke and Ms O'Donoghue regularly attended card sessions together.
The card-drive organiser, Ms Nora O'Sullivan, said people had been devastated by the news. Mr Burke and Ms O'Donoghue had been attending the 45 drive regularly for almost 10 years.