The deaths of three Irish people in a car crash in Spain has been described as “absolutely devastating.”
A fourth Irish person was seriously injured in the collision, which occurred near Malaga at around 2.30am yesterday morning, reports RTE.
Two women and one man died in the crash, while another man was seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
They’ve been named locally as Amy McCullagh, Michaela Newcombe and her partner Mark McCullagh.
All four are understood to be from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, reports RTE.
Two vehicles collided, with one plunging down an embankment on a stretch of the A-7 motorway.
Emergency services, including firefighters and local police, attended the scene of the incident, reports RTE.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance to the families involved.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee described the crash as “an absolutely devastating accident,” reports RTE.
“It is a tragic accident, a tragic incident and the most important thing now is their families are supported and given every assistance possible.”
Minister McEntee offered her condolences to the families and said both her department and An Garda SÃochána reached out immediately to them, reports RTE.
She also said it is important to find out what had happened, “to understand how this accident could have happened and provide the consular support and assistance to all of the families.”
Minister McEntee said her department and their teams on the ground in Malaga are providing that support, reports RTE.
She also confirmed that the fourth Irish person remains in a critical condition and said she hopes they make a full recovery.
Earlier, Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath Robert Troy said he spoke to the family of one of those who died and that “needless to say, they’re absolutely devastated,” reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said he knows the family well.
“It’s absolutely devastating news. Unfortunately I know one of the families quite well, I spoke to them yesterday. Needless to say, they’re absolutely devastated,” he said, reports RTE.
“It’s the worst of phone calls to get. They only went on holidays at the end of last week, and to get this call yesterday evening was heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with that family and indeed all families that are affected.”
Mr Troy said that all necessary supports would be made available to the families of the victims, reports RTE.
“The Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs are providing all assistance that they need at this time.
“These people went on holidays at the end of last week. Their families are processing now that some of them are not coming back home. That is an awful thing to have to deal with, reports RTE.
“What they need now is the time, space and necessary supports, and they will get the necessary supports from the embassy; the embassy has been engaging with them since yesterday evening.
“It’s really tragic. It’s sad for the family and for the wider community,” he said, reports RTE.
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