HEARTBREAKING tribute to a woman “known for her kindness” after she was hit by a car in the center of a town in County Cork yesterday.
The tragic accident happened when well-known and popular local woman Mary Fehilly bought a GAA lottery ticket from a local club official outside the Centra supermarket on Main Street in Charleville at around 2pm.
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Mary Fehilly sadly passed away yesterdayCredit: Rip.ie 
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Fianna Fail councilor Ian Doyle described Mary as ‘a saint’Credit: Fianna Fail
Mary, who was in her seventies, spoke to GAA club official Johnny Collins at the time of the incident and he was seriously injured.
He suffered serious leg injuries and is said to be in stable condition in hospital.
A car parked in a parking lot on the street outside the store drove onto the curb and sidewalk and allegedly struck the two victims.
Shocked shoppers rushed to help the injured and elderly driver of the car, a woman in her 80s, who was uninjured but in a state of deep shock and trauma.
Gardai and paramedics arrived at the scene where the injured were treated before being rushed Cork University Hospital where Mrs Fehilly was later pronounced dead.
Charleville GAA confirmed this week’s Lotto draw will be canceled as a “sign of respect” following the tragedy.
A spokesperson said: “Charleville GAA would like to express our deepest condolences to the Fehilly family following the tragic death of Mary on Main Street yesterday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are also with all the other families involved.”
Local Fianna fails Councilor Ian Doyle described Mary as “a saint”.
He said: “Without a doubt she was a saint. She was so famous for her kindness and charity work. She was involved in the local church and local charities.
“She was quiet and modest, but she got things done.
“There is a deep sense of shock and sadness in the city today and people are shocked by such a freak accident.
“Everyone prays that Johnny will make a speedy recovery and our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with Mary’s family and many friends. She will be a great loss to the city.
“Our thoughts also go out to the elderly lady who was driving the car and was involved in what can only be considered a completely bizarre accident.”
‘VERY SAD & TRAGIC ACCIDENT’
He said the city was particularly busy on Saturday afternoon with traffic moving bumper to bumper through rugby fans on their way into town Munster v All Blacks to agree Limerick.
He praised gardai for getting the road reopened at around 10pm.
Mary lived at Holycross Place in Charleville, where neighbors and friends comforted her shocked family.
Chief Inspector Gary McPolin said: “This was a very sad and tragic accident and unfortunately a local woman has been killed and another man seriously injured.
He said: “We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased woman, who was locally known and loved, and wish a speedy recovery to the man who suffered serious injuries in what can only be described as a freak accident.”
“I am appealing to those who witnessed the accident and motorists who saw the incident and may have mobile phone and dashcam footage to contact us at Mallow Garda Station.”
WITNESS OPENING
In a statement, Gardai said: “Shortly before 2pm, Gardai and emergency services responded to a collision involving a car and two pedestrians in Main Street, Charleville. The two pedestrians, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 60s , were taken to University Hospital with serious injuries.
“The pedestrian, aged in his 70s, was later pronounced deceased at Cork University Hospital. The condition of the second pedestrian is said to be stable.
“The scene was examined by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the local coroner has been informed. A post-mortem examination will be arranged.
“Gardai are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. They are also looking for mobile phone and dashcam footage of anyone who was in the area of Main Street, Charleville, at the time of the collision.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or a local Garda station.
SECOND PARKING ACCIDENT IN CORK
This is the second parking crash involving an elderly driver to result in a fatality in Cork County in the last three weeks.
Father-of-four, 90-year-old Cal O’Keeffe, was killed after pushing a woman out of the way of a car being driven out of a SuperValu car park in Fermoy, Co Cork, on October 18 last.
A woman in her 60s was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Mr O’Keeffe, a former school principal and farmer, was pronounced dead in the car park on Courthouse Road shortly after 11.15am.
CCTV footage shows that when a car came towards him, he pushed the woman aside.
A source said: “He saved the woman’s life, he is a hero.”
The car that hit the pedestrians was driven by a man in his 90s, who was deeply shocked and traumatized by the accident.
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