A priest has warned young men of the “danger” and “risks” associated with driving, adding that a car can be a “lethal weapon”.
Fr Seán Ó Longaigh, parish priest of Askeaton, Co Limerick, spoke on Tuesday at the funeral Mass of Myles “Miley” Harty, who died in a single car crash hours before he was due to marry last Saturday.
Mr Harty (20) was a front-seat passenger in a silver coloured Skoda hatchback which left a section of the R518 Askeaton to Rathkeale road and hit a pole around 1am.
A back seat passenger was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the driver, in his late teens, was arrested at the scene of the crash and questioned by gardaí before being released without charge, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Speaking about road safety in a general sense, Fr Ó Longaigh told those gathered at St Mary’s Church, Askeaton: “I want to make an appeal to our young people, because accidents are avoidable; cars are a wonderful gift, a great amenity, but they are also a lethal weapon.”
“I remember well, when I got my first car the temptation to speed, the temptation to take risks, and, of course when you are young, you see no danger, but unfortunately, danger is there stalking us.”
“And so, the plea that I’m sure many of us here would make, is to be aware of the danger to yourself and others when you drive a car — you are all too important to us to lose you.”
Mr Harty was to marry Kate Quilligan from Thomondgate, Limerick city, at St Munchin’s Church, on the day of the fatal collision.
Fr Ó Longaigh told Mr Harty’s parents, Margaret and Myles snr: “Your loss is great, nobody is really meant to bury one of their children, it’s a heart-rendering experience, but [Miley]has a cherished place in your hearts, a place he will never be displaced.”
“There’s a numbness, a disbelief, a grief that follows, and I’m sure there’s the difficulty, even still, of accepting that it has actually happened — it’s more like a bad dream.”
Fr Ó Longaigh said Mr Harty and Ms Quilligan ought to have had been celebrating their wedding, “but then, of course, so many circumstances added sorrow to sorrow, and how much more difficult that made things, especially for his bride Kate”.
“You and the rest of the family had to go from a day where you were to experience great joy to a day off deep grief, in a moment.”
The fatal collision which Mr Harty died in, “ended all his dreams and possibilities”.
Paying tribute to the 20-year old, Fr Ó Longaigh said: “I know that for Miley, his family were very important, especially his mother, and his grandparents”.
“As you all know Miley made friends easily and he had many friends, he lit up people’s lives; he loved horses, greyhounds, and hunting with his friends.”
On a lighter note, the priest added: “Miley was extremely generous and would share everything — but not, I believe, his kebab, his chips and his coke; there’s a limit to everything.”
Assisted by Church of Ireland Rev Canon Patrick Comerford, Limerick & Killaloe, Fr Ó Longaigh said “crowds” had gathered around the family following the tragedy “to console you, but there is a grief there that only you have”.
Family members walked with the remains carrying a banner featuring photographs of relatives, which read: “RIP Miley, You Are With Your Family Now”.
Some mourners, including Ms Quilligan, wore white T-shirts with a photograph of Mr Harty and the words “R.I.P. BOSS”.
A large poster of the deceased and another of him with his bride-to-be were displayed beside his coffin.
Limerick singer Sinead O’Brien, from Patrickswell, performed songs including You Raise Me Up.
A large crowd listened to the Mass on a loudspeaker outside the church and along the street, while a smaller group of Mr Harty’s immediate family and close friends gathered inside.
Items brought items to the altar included a bottle of coke, hair gel and deodorant, a mobile phone, a halter and rope, and a Limerick GAA jersey.
“He would have really enjoyed (the All-Ireland final) last Sunday, I’m sure he was looking on at it from another point of view,” Fr Ó Longaigh concluded.
Mr Harty’s remains were buried at Reilig Mhuire Cemetery, Askeaton.