THE heartbroken sons of an elderly woman killed in a ‘freak’ accident in Enniskillen have told of how their brave mother had recently overcome a cancer scare.
Bridget Kelly (76) died after being struck by a lorry on the Tempo Road as she walked home from visiting her husband’s grave last Wednesday evening.
Her two sons, Kieran (36) and Paul (34) spoke to the Fermanagh Herald following the tragic death of their beloved mother whose requiem mass was held at St Michael’s Church on Sunday.
The pair paid tribute to their loving and dedicated mother who they described as a “hard working and popular woman”.
She was recovering from a cancer scare in November, but despite the setback, Kieran, who lived with his mother, explained how his mother walked the short distance to the town centre and Breandrum graveyard every day.
He continued: “We were very close to our mum, and although we had our ups and downs we always made up. She started to get into Manchester United and really liked her football and loved her flowers.
“She was on her way back from visiting dad’s grave, who died 18 years ago from a heart attack, and was taking the same route home as she always did and apparently it was a freak accident, she didn’t see the lorry and stepped out. She could have switched off for a few minutes like most of us do.
“She got hit and that was it.
“She was still alive and was talking to the nurses in the ambulance and was able to tell her name and say she had two boys but she was dead ten minutes later.
“I was home hours before the accident and I was sitting in the van printing out a document and she was standing beside me knocking the window and had a bag in her hand for rubbish like she did everyday.
“She was a lovely woman who would have done anything for anyone and was such a hard worker, always on the go.
“It has been a long time since Daddy died and I always relied on Mummy, she always looked after me.
“She knew everyone by their nick-names and even though she was 76 she was still very fit.
Paul, who is father to five-year-old Nicole and Georga (18 months) was made aware of his mother’s accident after a friend in Norway contacted him.
He described the heartbreaking moment he rushed to his mother’s home in search of further news.
“I couldn’t find Mum and I knew it then something was wrong,” he added.
“Her death is a shock and it’s just the way she went – I would understand if she died from natural causes but not this. She didn’t deserve this.
“She got her hair done earlier that day and called in to see me. That was the last time I saw her.”
A police spokesman said: “Bridget Kelly was a pedestrian who was involved in the collision with a lorry in the Tempo Road / Westville Terrace area shortly before 5pm.
“A man was arrested and was later was released on bail pending further enquiries.
“Police would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them at Enniskillen Police Station or the Collision Investigation Unit in Steeple Police Station on the non-emergency number 101.”
A spokesperson for Cathcart Building Supplies, where the accident occurred, offered their condolences to the family. “Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.”
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