Ireland Fatal bus collision in Longford under investigation
Martin McDonnell, 19, of Farnagh, Longford, was struck and killed by a Bus Éireann bus while walking along Convent Road in Longford town at around 6.15pm on Thursday 6 April 2023. The bus, travelling from Cavan to Athlone, was turning onto Convent Road at the time of the collision, and no injuries were reported to the driver or passengers. Mr McDonnell was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital for a post-mortem. A Garda Forensic Collision investigation was opened with a technical examination the following morning, and Gardaí appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage. His funeral was held at St Mel's Cathedral on 11 April 2023.
- Reported6 Apr
7 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Martin McDonnell, 19, of Farnagh, Longford, was struck and killed by a Bus Éireann bus while walking along Convent Road in Longford town.
- The Bus Éireann bus was travelling from Cavan to Athlone and was turning onto Convent Road at the time of the incident.
- The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
- No injuries were reported to the bus driver or passengers.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Convent Road junction in Longford town.
- When
- The collision occurred at around 6.15pm on Thursday 6 April 2023.
- Investigation
- A Garda Forensic Collision investigation was opened, with a technical examination conducted the following morning.
- Gardaí appealed for witnesses and anyone with video or dash-cam footage to contact them.
- Other details
- The victim's fiancée is Shirley Dempsey, and the couple had planned to marry in Northern Ireland three weeks before his death.
- Martin McDonnell's older brother Ciaran, 23, died on New Year's Day 2022 after the car he was driving was found partially submerged in water off the R194 between Granard and Ballinalee.
- Martin McDonnell is survived by his parents Willie and Patricia and numerous siblings.
- His funeral was held at St Mel's Cathedral on 11 April 2023, with the cortege stopping briefly at the scene.
47 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his late teens was knocked down and killed after being struck by a bus in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe collision involved a bus and a pedestrian (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe pedestrian was a man in his late teens who suffered fatal injuries (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- whatA teen died after being struck by a bus in Longford. (extra.ie)
- whatA fatal road traffic incident involving a bus and a pedestrian occurred. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe Bus Éireann bus was turning onto Convent Road at the time of the incident (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe bus had been travelling from Cavan to Athlone (longfordleader.ie)
- whatMartin McDonnell, 19, was fatally injured as he walked along Convent Road in Longford town. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe pedestrian, a man in his late teens, suffered fatal injuries. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe victim's older brother Ciaran, 23, died on New Year's Day 2022 after the car he was driving was found partially submerged in water off the R194 between Granard and Ballinalee. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatMartin McDonnell, 19, of Farnagh, Longford, was fatally injured after being struck by a Bus Éireann bus on Convent Road shortly after 6pm on Thursday 6 April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMartin was due to get married in Northern Ireland in three weeks before his death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe funeral cortege stopped briefly at the scene where Martin lost his life. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMartin McDonnell was 19 years old (longfordleader.ie)
- whatMartin McDonnell was struck by a Bus Éireann bus (longfordleader.ie)
- whatMartin McDonnell was fatally injured (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at the Convent Road junction in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place on Convent Road in Longford (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereMartin McDonnell was fatally injured walking along the Convent Road area of Longford town shortly after 6pm (longfordleader.ie)
- whereMartin McDonnell was from Farnagh, Longford (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred on Convent Road in Longford town (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident happened shortly after 6pm on 6 April 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at around 6.15pm (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Thursday evening, 6 April 2023 (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at around 6.15pm on Thursday 6 April 2023, involving a bus and a pedestrian. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred shortly after 6pm (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe scene was cordoned off pending a full Garda Forensic Collision investigation. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem will take place in due course (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe scene was preserved with local diversions in place (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators was scheduled for the morning (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses and video footage including dash-cam (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued an appeal in connection with the incident. (extra.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination will be carried out. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGarda Forensic Collision Investigators were to conduct a technical examination the following morning. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators was to take place the following morning. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses and anyone with video or dash-cam footage to contact them. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim was from Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherShirley Dempsey is the fiancée of Martin McDonnell (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe couple had planned to get married in Northern Ireland in three weeks (longfordleader.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported to the bus driver or passengers (longfordleader.ie)
- otherBus Éireann CEO Stephen Kent expressed sympathy for the family (longfordleader.ie)
- otherLongford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Hagan expressed shock and extended sympathies to the family on behalf of the Longford community. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherMartin is survived by his parents Willie and Patricia and numerous siblings. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMartin McDonnell was due to get married in Northern Ireland three weeks before his death (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe hearse stopped at the scene of the incident (longfordleader.ie)
- otherHe is survived by his parents Willie and Patricia (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Apr2023'You were my best friend': sister's heartbreaking tribute to Longford teen killed in bus tragedy
Funeral tribute article reporting on the death of Martin McDonnell and tributes from his family at St Mel's Cathedral.
victim, Martin McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonnell - 11 Apr2023Tears flow as sister speaks at funeral of man hit and killed by bus in Longford
Reports the funeral service at St Mel's Cathedral on 11 April 2023, tributes from sister Melissa and younger brother Brandon, the burial at Ballymacormack Cemetery, and that Martin was due to marry in Northern Ireland in three weeks. Also notes his older brother Ciaran died in a single-vehicle accident outside Granard on New Year's Day and his uncle Patrick had also passed away.
victim, Martin McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonnell - 7 Apr2023Teenager killed by bus in the Midlands had lost older brother in car crash just over year ago
Adds that the victim's older brother Ciaran (23) died in a car crash on New Year's Day 2022, includes tributes from friends and a statement from Longford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Hagan, and confirms a full Garda Forensic Collision investigation is underway with a post-mortem at Mullingar Regional Hospital.
victim, Martin McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonnell - 7 Apr2023'He was my whole life', says heartbroken fianceé of tragic Longford man knocked down and killed by bus
Adds details about the victim's fiancée Shirley Dempsey, his sister Helen, and his older brother Ciaran who died in a car crash outside Granard on New Year's Day. Confirms the bus was travelling from Cavan to Athlone and that no injuries were reported to the driver or passengers.
victim, Martin McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Martin McDonnell - 6 Apr2023Longford gardaí appeal for witnesses to tragic fatal road traffic incident
Initial witness appeal published the evening of the incident; confirms the time as 6.15pm, the location as Convent Road, and that the body was taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem. Adds that Garda Forensic Collision Investigators will conduct a technical examination the following morning.
victim, late teens, male - 6 Apr2023Teen Dies After Being Struck By Bus In Longford As Gardai Issue Appeal
Gardaí issued a public appeal for information in connection with the fatal bus collision.
victim - 6 Apr2023Teenage pedestrian killed in the Midlands after being struck by a bus
Adds the specific time of 6.15pm, confirms the body was taken to Mullingar Regional Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem, notes the scene was preserved with local diversions, and reports that Garda Forensic Collision Investigators will conduct a technical examination the following morning. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage.
victim, late teens, male - 6 Apr2023BREAKING: Pedestrian killed after being hit by bus in Longford town
Initial breaking news report from the evening of the incident; confirms the victim was a man in his late teens from Longford, pronounced dead at the scene, and the scene was cordoned off for a Garda Forensic Collision investigation.
victim, late teens, male, irish (judged from name)