Shattering crash unites community behind family

Gillian Treacy and her sons Ciarán and Sean spent the afternoon walking in the woods with the boys’ grandparents - a car crash on their way home devastated their family, and united a stunned community determined to help.

Shattering crash unites community behind family

Ciarán Tracey

Gillian Treacy had taken her two sons Ciarán (four) and Séan (seven) to see her parents in her native Stradbally, Co Laois.

After a ramble in the woods with their grandparents, the boys and Gillian left in the early evening. They were just three miles from home in Portarlington, Co Laois when their car and another vehicle crashed head-on.

The crash, on April 17 last, was devastating. Gillian was badly injured and had to be cut from the car, which took an hour. She was fully conscious throughout, while emergency services staff worked to save Ciarán, having taken him from the car.

A passerby who recognised the car rang Gillian’s husband Ronan, who was at their home in Portarlington having dressed two-year-old Caoimhe for bed and settled her to sleep.

As soon as the call came through, and he understood it was very serious, Ronan bundled Caoimhe into the car and drove to the scene.

He had by then spoken to Gillian who said nothing of her own injuries, but said she was very worried about Ciarán. She couldn’t get to him, as she was trapped and badly injured, but was aware of the emergency services working to help him. By then, seven-year-old Sean had been removed from the car and taken to an ambulance.

Despite all the efforts of emergency personnel, Ciarán died as a result of the crash.

Gillian’s injuries were extensive and included a fractured sternum, pelvis and shattered ankles. She has also needed a skin graft.

Despite her injuries, Gillian insisted on being present at Ciarán’s funeral four days after the crash. She had to travel there by ambulance, and stay on a stretcher throughout the service.

Gillian with Ciarán, and Caoimhe in the background

“One of the hardest things for them was being denied the chance to grieve as a family for Ciarán,” said family friend Eoghan McConnell.

“Gillian was in hospital so long, that they are only now able to grieve together.”

Ronan and Gillian with Ciaran (right), Sean and Caoimhe

Gillian spent five weeks after the accident in hospital and has had eight operations, the shortest of which was three hours long. Others have taken 12 hours, and there are more to come. Gillian is expected to make a full recovery eventually, but progress towards that goal is slow for now.

Both Gillian and Ronan’s families are well known in the Stradbally and Portarlington areas. Ronan leases Treacy's Gala Texaco Service Station in Portarlington, while Gillian trained as a beautician.

“She had stepped back from work to look after the kids. The kids are her life,” Eoghan said.

Ciarán, Caoimhe and Sean

Their neighbours and friends, moved by Ciarán’s death and by Gillian’s injuries, have rallied behind them to an extent that has overwhelmed the family, and created the “Bubbles for Ciarán” family support fund.

They approached Ronan with their idea. The family, “having worked for everything all their lives, were reluctant at first”, Eoghan told us, but “came round and came on board and have been overwhelmed by the support of their neighbours”.

“There was a picture taken of Ciarán at a family wedding about a year before the accident,” said Eoghan. “He’s running after some bubbles, and it was such a happy day, everyone kind of latched onto it as an image for the campaign.”

A facebook page has generated close to 5,000 likes, and is used to promote a battery of fundraising events to help the family in the aftermath of the accident.

Gillian can’t go upstairs in their home, and the house has had to be adapted to cater for her reduced mobility. She will need on-going care for at least a year and currently has a nurse calling three times a day. Locals also hope to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible car.

Gillian and Ronan also hope the fund will be of use to families in a similar situation in future.

“They want to keep the campaign alive for other families, in Ciarán’s name,” said Eoghan.

Fundraisers include 20 coffee mornings (with more being organised), table quizzes, raffle tickets, bottles of bubbles being sold in Stradbally shops and the big one - a “Bubbles and Birdies” golf classic in Portarlington Golf Club followed by an auction on August 8.

“Ronan told me the family is amazed by all that’s being done,” said Eoghan. Gillian recently attended one of the coffee mornings, which Ronan said had “lifted her spirits”.

Day-to-day, their son and daughter, Sean and Caoimhe “keep them going and keep them strong”, said Eoghan.

** If you would like to donate to the Bubbles for Ciarán fund, you can do so at the Credit Union in Portarlington:

Account Name: Ciaran Treacy Family Support Fund

IBAN: IE88BOFI90186124552141

BIC: BOFIIE2D

Ref No: 14016

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