Funeral of Mayo road traffic victim to take place in Westport

THE funeral of a Westport who died in a road traffic accident near Mulranny last Thursday will take place today and tomorrow in his native town. 

Michael John Murphy, who was in his early 40s and a native of Upper Drumindoo, Westport, was killed when he was involved in a single vehicle road traffic accident while driving his van along the N59 Ballycroy to Mulranny road, approximately 2km from Mulranny.

The collision took place between 9.30am and 10am on Thursday, February 6 and Mr Murphy who was the sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead shortly afterwards at the scene. A father of two, Mr Murphy worked as a delivery driver for dpd and had been living in Belmullet with his partner Madara Parfjonova, who is a native of Latvia.

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Mr Murphy's Funeral Mass will take place tomorrow, Monday morning at 11am in St Mary’s Church, Westport with burial afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery.

His body will repose at his residence in Drumindoo, Westport this evening from 4pm until 7pm and a one-way system will be in place entering off the Castlebar Road at Upper Drummindoo and exiting onto The Lodge Road.

He is survived by his sons Seán and Rian; his parents John and Mary; brother Patrick and his partner Madara, close family members, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Following the collision, Mr Murphy's body was removed to Mayo University Hospital for a post mortem while the N59 road from Mulranny to Bangor Erris was closed to allow Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to carry out an investigation.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the area between 9.30am and 10am are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.