Tragedy haunts races for second year in row

Tragedy struck the Kells Road Races for the second year in a row with the death of a 27 year-old father of three during a practice session at the races on Saturday. In the second major tragedy to hit the event in just over a year, rider Stephen Larkin from Gilford, near Banbridge, was fatally injured on the Crossakiel road circuit, practising for the 401-750cc support race on Saturday evening. The accident happened at 5.20pm and the rider was been taken to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital where he was pronounced dead. At last year's races, 32-year-old Padraig Campbell from Co Westmeath died, also in a practice session. His death had been the first fatality in the 15-year history of the Kells races. Mr Larkin's family had indicated that the races should continue, but the organisers were forced to cancel some of Sunday's races due to adverse weather conditions. The secretary of the Kells Motorcycle Racing Club, Aileen Ferguson, said the rider's family asked for racing to carry on. "His wife Catherine, father Gerry and brother Michael stated that it is what Stephen would have wanted - he loved the racing," she said. The family had asked her to pass on their good wishes to all competitors, she added. "Kells MCRC would like to express their sympathy to all the Larkin family and to all of Stephen's many friends," Ms Ferguson said in a statement issued after the tragedy. A statement issued by the Larkin family said: "Stephen's wife Catherine, his children Aaron, Megan and Callum, father Gerald, mother Bernadette, brother Michael, sister Martina and the entire family circle are shocked and devastated by the tragic and untimely death of Stephen." Mr Larkin worked as a mechanic in Portadown, Co Armagh, and had just won his first motorbike race at the Bush Road Races in Co Tyrone four weeks ago. His funeral Mass will take place at noon today (Wednesday) in the Church of St John the Evangelist, Gilford. A collection around the track was held for the dead man's family on Saturday. Mr Larkin is believed to have been negotiating a sweeping bend in the road when he hit a pillar at the entrance of a house. The pillar had been covered with hay to minimise the impact of any collision. He was given medical attention at the scene and was then brought by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. The scene of the crash was sealed off and examined on Saturday evening by Garda crash scene investigators. The cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council, Cllr Conor Ferguson, extended the sympathy of the council and the town to Mr Larkin's family, describing the incident as a terrible tragedy. He pointed out that the Kells Motor Cycle Racing Club does everything it can to make the Crossakiel circuit a safe track. Meanwhile, thousands of visitors arrived in Kells for the Road Races and to welcome over 300 riders who took part in the Kells to Kells Rideout. The bikers had set out from Kells in County Antrim on Saturday and travelled to Kells, County Meath, accompanied by a PSNI and Garda escort. Cllr Brian Collins was in Kells in County Antrim to see the riders off along with the Mayor of Ballymena, Maurice Mills. He said it was wonderful to see the warm welcome the Garda riders received in the Northern Ireland town. The riders, accompanied by motorcyclists from both police forces, were welcomed bo Kells by the Kells Town Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Ferguson. The Kells Bike Fest, which also took place on Saturday, attracted large crowds to the town and featured stunt riding, bouncy castles, face-painting and many other attractions.