Councillors pass vote of sympathy to family of Tipperary student who died in car accident

Tipperary public representatives observed a minute of silence and passed a vote of sympathy this afternoon (Monday, April 28) to the grieving family of the 18-year-old Clonmel Leaving Cert student, who died tragically in a car accident in the Kilmoyler area near Cahir last Thursday night.

The vote of sympathy to the family of Bronagh English of Anner Park House, Waterford Road, Clonmel was passed at a special meeting of Clonmel Borough District councillors in Clonmel Town Hall that was also attended by Dáil deputies Mattie McGrath and Seamus Healy.

The Rockwell College student's family was well-known to several of the public representatives gathered in the Town Hall chamber for the meeting. Her maternal grandfather is former Waterford Fianna Fáil TD and Senator Dr Donie Ormonde.

Fine Gael Cllr John Fitzgerald proposed the vote of sympathy at the meeting to the English family on the tragic loss of their beloved daughter Bronagh, who was a good friend of his own daughter.  “It's a terrible time for that family and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.

Cllr Cllr Tom Acheson seconded the vote of sympathy.  "The anguish and sadness brought to the English household just doesn't bear thinking about," he said as he extended his support and condolences to the deceased's family. 

In her expression of sympathy to the English and Ormonde families, Fianna Fáil Cllr Siobhán Ambrose recalled how Bronagh was so young, preparing for her Leaving Cert and planning her future when her life was cut so short.

Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English echoed her sentiments. He said there had been a pall of sadness around the town of Clonmel since news broke of the death of this young girl, who was just starting out on life and had so much to look forward to.

Independent TD Seamus Healy agreed. He said people throughout the town of Clonmel were shocked and saddened by the death of such a young girl.

Meanwhile, Independent TD Mattie McGrath described the deceased as a “wonderful, bright young girl” and said the tragic accident that took her life was “a totally shocking event” that words couldn't describe.

Independent Cllr Niall Dennehy also extended condolences at the meeting to the late Bronagh English's devastated family.

The councillors attending the special Clonmel Borough District meeting also passed a vote of sympathy on the death of Pope Francis.

The meeting was convened to pass a motion requesting Clonmel Borough District to call on the Government to immediately convene the Local Democracy Taskforce on local government reform it has proposed in the Programme for Government with a view to making a recommendation to re-establish town councils in large towns.

Bronagh English's Requiem Mass will be celebrated in St John The Baptist Church, Powerstown Clonmel tomorrow (Tuesday, April 29) with burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.

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