The late Tom Connors
By Sarah Slater
A motorcyclist who died in a fatal hit-and-run traffic collision in Co Carlow on Wednesday night to be buried tomorrow.
Tom Connors, 35, of No 2 Na Coilte, Bunclody, Co Wexford died when the motorbike he was driving was in collision with a car at around 11pm on Wednesday.
The car in which the occupants were in failed to remain at the scene and was found burnt out close to an area known as Sandbrook along the Ballon to Rathoe Road.
The body of the father-of-two, remained at the scene for several hours and road was closed to allow for a full forensic and technical examination.
His remains were removed to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) where a post mortem was carried out.
The local coroner and the office of the State Pathologist were notified. Gardai said all circumstances of the incident are being investigated and a senior investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed while an incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station.
A local person who lives close to the collision scene explained that the road is “very dangerous and narrow and it would only be travelled on if a person knew it as a short cut.”
Mr Connors had been sentenced to three years imprisonment for the unlawful taking of a vehicle and was approaching the end of his sentence from Loughan House Open Centre prison in Co Cavan when he left the facility on April 20.
His remains are reposing at Murphy’s Funeral Home, The Avenue, Gorey, today Saturday from 2pm with removal at 4pm to The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Bunclody arriving for reception prayers at 5pm. His funeral Mass on Sunday will be held at midday followed by burial to Calgary Cemetery, Bunclody.
Funeral details on rip.ie add: “Beloved son of John and Kathleen, husband of Bridgie, father of Annalise and Kathleen, brother of Phyllis, Annie, Katie and Bully. Deeply regretted by his father, mother, wife, daughters, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, relatives and friends.
“The family very much appreciates your kindness at this sad time.”
Gardai are following a number of lines of inquiry around the circumstances of his death with one scenario being investigated being that he may have known those in the car his motorbike may have been in collision with.
