Pedestrian, 80s, killed in horror Dublin city bus crash tragedy named as ‘lovely’ local man with community ‘devastated’
THE man killed when a double-decker bus crashed into a pedestrianised street in Dublin yesterday has been named as Frank Daly.
The victim, aged in his 80s, was from the East Wall area of Dublin, just a 20-minute drive from where the horror Bus Eireann crash occurred.
The fatal crash occurred on North Earl Street after 12.30pm on Thursday afternoon, around 100m from the Spire on O’Connell Street.
Frank Daly, a pedestrian, was pronounced dead at the scene of the horror bus incident that hospitalised three other people.
A second male pedestrian in his 20s was rushed to hospital yesterday with “serious” but non-life threating injuries.
A female pedestrian, aged in her 30s, was also taken to hospital but her condition does not pose a risk to life.
Gardai confirmed last night the driver of the bus, a female in her 50s, was the third person taken to hospital from the scene.
She is receiving for treatment of “non-life-threatening” injuries in hospital.
Gardai are probing whether the driver suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel before the tragedy unfolded.
Floral tributes have been laid at the scene today, where Mr Daly lost his life.
Local Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan paid tribute to the elderly man who was “fit as a fiddle”.
She told RTE: “He loved the walking, and was fit as a fiddle, someone told me that there was one day in the summer where he walked to Dún Laoghaire to get an ice-cream.”
‘COMMUNITY IS DEVESTATED’
The councillor continued: “The community is devastated, he was a lovely man and he always said hello when you passed.
“My friends in the area who knew him well are devastated.”
The pensioner is understood to have visited the North Earl Street area on daily basis, walking to local business Ann’s Bakery.
The Bus Eireann double-decker was travelling up Talbot Street before the horror crash yesterday afternoon and was out of service at the time.
The coach was due to take a left turn and continue onto the one-way system on Marlborough Street once reaching the crossroads on that section of road.
However, the bus instead hurtled straight across and on to pedestrianised North Earl Street.
The coach was stopped in its tracks when it crashed next to packed Guiney’s department store shortly after 12.35pm.
It had mounted the footpath and collided with a lamppost during the incident.
A huge emergency response was launched as the horror events unfolded in front of lunchtime crowds on packed North Earl Street.
Dublin Fire Brigade said over 20 firefighters and paramedics, four engines, two emergency tenders with heavy rescue tools were deployed to the scene.
An advanced paramedic response car was also dispatched to the incident and Green Line Luas services in the area were halted as emergency crews worked.
ESB and public lighting crews were requested at the scene because a streetlight was downed in the crash.
A tent was erected around the crash site and a garda cordon put in place in the busy retail hub.
A garda cordon remained in place in the city centre last night as the scene was preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.
Diversions for motorists and pedestrians were lifted today as the bus was removed from the site and the area reopened.
A Senior Investigative Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation from an incident room established at Store Street Garda Station.
And Family Liaison Officer was appointed to Frank Daly’s family yesterday after his passing was confirmed.
‘VERY DIFFICULT TIME’
Bus Eireann said it was “deeply saddened” to confirm there was a fatality and several injuries after its bus was involved in a “serious collision involving pedestrians”.
The company’s chief executive, Jean O’Sullivan, said: “We are profoundly saddened by this tragic incident.
“On behalf of everyone at Bus Eireann, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, and our thoughts are with all those affected at this very difficult time.”
Bus Eireann said it is offering its full support to the relevant authorities as their investigations continue and will provide any additional assistance required.
The fatal crash happened as a Dail debate on road safety got underway just 10 minutes away in Leinster House.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed to attendees at yesterday afternoon’s debate that a life had been lost.
Leading tributes in the chamber he said: “I regret to say there has been a fatality there.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the person who has been fatally injured and indeed the people who are in hospital.
“We wish them well. As a society we find ourselves too often expressing condolences rising from serious traffic accidents.”
‘FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE’
Tanaiste Simon Harris said he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the “tragic bus crash” in a statement yesterday.
The Wicklow TD said: “My thoughts are with the family of the person killed and with those injured.
“I am very grateful to our emergency services for their response.
“I want to reassure Dubliners that the situation is being actively managed, and I would ask the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their work.”
President Catherine Connolly said: “May I further thank the emergency services for their swift attendance on the scene and send my best wishes to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery, as well as to all those impacted by today’s event.”
Several other political figures rushed to offer sympathies as details of the tragedy emerged.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ray McAdam, said: “My thoughts are with those who have been injured and with their families at this difficult time.
And Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who is an elected TD for Dublin Central, said she was “devastated” to learn of the crash.
She said: “My thoughts are with the family of the deceased and all of the people who were struck or caught up in this collision, with their families, friends, and loved ones, and with everyone affected by what must be a very frightening experience.”
