Foxford youth dies in traffic accident

Foxford youth dies in traffic accident


Anton McNulty

THE funeral service of a 19-year-old Foxford youth who died in a single vehicle collision in the early hours of Friday morning will take place this morning (Tuesday).
Michael Bell of Aughaward, Foxford died when the car in which he was a back-seat passenger went out of control and struck a pillar and wall. The incident occurred on Station Road in Foxford, approximately one kilometre from Foxford on the Foxford to Pontoon Road at 12.45am on Friday morning. He died at the scene.
There were four others in the vehicle, three males and a female. All were taken to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar but none was seriously injured. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the crash and according to Superintendent Ronan Galligan, the vehicle had been travelling towards Foxford at the time of impact.
“We are appealing for anybody who travelled on this stretch of road between 12.45am and 1 am yesterday to come forward,” Supt Galligan said.
Michael Bell was a student at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and his family had only moved to the Foxford area some years ago from Northern Ireland. The Parish priest of Foxford, Fr Padraig Costello said the death was a ‘terrible tragedy’ and a great blow to the community.
Michael’s remains were removed from Clarke’s Funeral Home in Foxford on yesterday [Monday] evening to Toomore Church. Funeral Service takes place this morning [Tuesday] at 11am with the funeral proceeding to Toomore Cemetery.