Rahan in mourning for road crash victim

Yet another Offaly person lost their life on the roads last Thursday, the third road death of the year in the county. Twenty-eight-year-old James Gibbons, originally from Trim, Co Meath, but living in Rahan, lost his life in a three lorry pile-up on the N62 main Roscrea to Templemore Road at Ashmere at around 8am last Thursday, January 17. James? wife Patricia is expecting the couple?s second child in July. James, or Jimmy as he was known, was working for agricultural contractor and haulage company Liam Healion and Sons, working on a sub-contract for Ascon, at the time of the accident. A second lorry, also reported to be working on a sub-contract basis for Ascon, collided with the lorry Mr Gibbons was driving, and then with a third lorry travelling in the same direction. Weather conditions at the time were poor, with heavy rain and wet roads. Mr Gibbons, who survived a life-threatening car accident nine years ago, that left him on life support for over six months, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two other truck drivers involved in the accident were taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Nenagh with non life-threatening injuries. Jimmy?s wife Patricia, a Rahan native, is expecting the couple?s second child in July. The couple also have a six-year-old son, Conor. ?He was like my son for as long as I?ve known him,? Patricia?s father Michael Connolly said yesterday, adding that he was also like a brother to son Alan. Mr Connolly explained that Jimmy had moved to Offaly from his native Meath six years ago, after meeting Patricia when she was on a work placement on a Trim farm, and had bought a house in Rahan four years ago. The couple were married just eight months ago, last May 18, in Rahan, and Jimmy was due to turn 29 on June 20. According to Mr Connolly, Jimmy was laid-back, and made friends easily on moving to Offaly, originally through Mr Connolly and Patricia?s involvement in ploughing and Macra circles and later working with Liam, Jonathon and Nigel Healion. ?He was into everything,? Mr Connolly said. A testament to this was the guard of honour of 80 people, made up of lorry drivers and construction workers, at Jimmy?s funeral. His coffin was draped with four jerseys - Boardsmill, Meath, Shamrocks and Offaly. Jimmy?s remains were removed from his home last Sunday morning to St Carthage?s Church in Killina, Rahan, where the chief mourners were his wife Patricia, son Conor, parents Breda and James, brother Martin, sisters Jackie, Denise, Elaine, Linda and Annette, brothers-in-law Peter and Alan, father-in-law Michael, mother-in-law Mary Jo and sister-in-law Trina along with nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, his grandmother, cousins, work colleagues and many friends. He was buried immediately afterwards in Rahan cemetery. Gardai in Roscrea appealed again yesterday for any witnesses to the accident. Some have come forward, but Roscrea Gardai say they are still looking for information from anyone who saw the incident. Witnesses are asked to contact the Garda station on 0505 24230.