Parish in shock as two young lives taken in crash

The parish of Ratoath was plunged into shock and mourning this week following an horrific car accident in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning in which two young local men died. The two men who were killed have been named locally as Fergal Ronan (21) of Fairyhouse Lodge, Ratoath and Brian Bradley (20) of Loughlinstown, Ratoath. Tragedy struck at around 2am when the two men, aged 20 and 21, were fatally injured when the car in which they were travelling hit a tree. The driver and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies were taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. There was no-one else in the car at the time of the collision. The accident occurred on the Ratoath to Dunshaughlin road, about three miles outside Dunshaughlin. Emergency services were alerted by a passing motorist and arrived on the scene of carnage shortly afterwards. The men who died were understood to have been firm friends for many years and were popular young men in the Ratoath area. The young men had not been formally named by Gardai yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. The road was closed to traffic for almost 12 hours as garda forensic investigators examined the scene and diversions were put in place. The gardai are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident or who has any information to contact them. Witnesses have been asked to contact Dunshaughlin Garda station on (01) 825 8600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. The tragedy cast a huge shadow over Ratoath this week. Local county councillor Nick Killian said it came as a major blow to Ratoath and the entire community was in mourning. "The village is in shock, particularly the younger people. Everyone is very upset. We are all devastated. They were very well-liked," he said of the two young victims. "There is great sadness around the village." He said that Ratoath was a very close-knit communnity and the people would rally round in support of the two families and extended his sympathy to the two bereaved families. Deputy Regina Doherty added that it was a sad day for Ratoath. "It is so senseless and tragic. It is hard to come to terms with. Life is so fragile," she said. She said Ratoath was in shock and young people in particular were numb. "It is so very sad." She, too, expressed her condolences to the families of both men. Meath County Council's Road Safety Officer, Michael Finnegan, described the accident as "absolutely horrendous". "It is a terrible tragedy for the families and the community. It is a terrible loss of young lives," he said. Mr Finnegan appealed to all drivers, and particularly young drivers and male drivers, to slow down. He pointed out that this week's double tragedy was just the second fatal accident in Meath this year. The first took place at the end of June when a young Ashbourne woman lost her life in a single vehicle collision at Primatestown, outside the town, on the N2. She was Laura Wilson (22) from Millbourne Grove, Ashbourne. Fergal Ronan's remains will be reposing at his home from 5pm on Thursday to 8pm and will be removed to the Church of the Holy Trinity, Ratoath, on Friday morning for 11am Mass. Burial in Ratoath Cemetery will follow. Brian Bradley's remains will be removed on Thursday to Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, for Mass at 11am, followed by cremation at Glasnevin Crematorium, Dublin.