‘Pain will never go away': Newly married man laid to rest following Kildare crash

Sunday World

a day ago

Jerry Maloney was killed when the car he was a passenger in crashed on the Barrettstown Road in Newbridge
The heartbroken family of Jerry Maloney, a young man who died in a crash in Co Kildare last week, has told mourners at his funeral mass today that the pain of his sudden loss will 'never go away'.
Jerry Maloney (19) from Newbridge in Co Kildare, who was a member of the Traveller community, tragically lost his life when the pick-up truck he was a passenger in crashed on the Barrettstown Road in Newbridge, Co Kildare shortly after 8pm on Thursday, June 5.
Jerry, who only recently married his wife Chloe, was taken to Naas General Hospital where he was later sadly pronounced dead.
The male driver, also aged in his teens, was taken to Tallaght Hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. There were no other injuries reported.
Hundreds of mourners, all wearing different shades of blue and navy, filled St. Conleth's Parish Church in Newbridge, Co Kildare to celebrate the memory of a man who 'lost [his] life too young'.
Standing at the front of the church, which was adorned with flowers and countless pictures of Jerry, Ellen Maloney, Jerry's cousin, paid tribute to a young man with 'such a big heart'.
'I'm just lost for words,' Ellen Maloney told the congregation. 'This pain is never going away because how can we accept that Jerry is gone to heaven.
"You used to collect us all and bring us to the sunbeds and on the way home you would put on love songs for us and we would sing our hearts out.'
'Jerry gave you something money can't buy,' continued Ellen as she addressed Jerry's wife, Chloe. 'He gave you love. He loved his Chloe so much.
"Life is so cruel. When he got all he dreamed and prayed for, he didn't get to live it out.'
The late Jerry Maloney
Ellen next read out a tribute from Jerry's wife, Chloe, whom he married only a few months ago.
"You found part of me I didn't know existed and in you I found a love I no longer believed was real,' read Ellen on behalf of Chloe. 'You fought so hard to get me. You loved me with every piece of your heart.
"Falling in love with you my baby was one of the greatest things in my life. You stole my heart away leaving me breathless.
"I love you my Jerry, love your wife, Chloe. We will be together again, husband and wife. Sleep tight.'
Applause vibrated around the church as mourners took it in turns to place their hands on Jerry's coffin, taking one last moment with him.
The late Jerry Maloney with his wife, Chloe
"Today was one of the hardest days you will ever face,' said parish priest, Fr Ruairí Ó Domhnaill as he addressed Jerry's family and many friends. 'So today you need to be easy on yourself and be easy on each other because today is a hard day.
"My friends, I know that the sadness of this day has been compounded for many of you by things that have happened in the town [Newbridge],' continued Fr Ó Domhnaill. 'I know they have made the sadness even more difficult to bear.
"For anyone that asks me, I want this message to go out. I know people are watching on webcam, I know we have lots of people in the church. One word came to me last evening, when all of you had left the church. And you know what that word was? The word was 'dignity'.
The late Jerry Maloney. Photo: RIP.ie
News in 90 Seconds - June 11th
"You carried yourselves with absolute dignity yesterday. Absolute dignity. And I want to say that publicly that all of you showed such respect in the church. You showed such respect to Jerry and you carried yourselves with absolute dignity and I know you will carry yourselves with absolute dignity today.
"You are showing the measure of how funerals should be celebrated and marked at this church. Thank you for the dignity and the respect that you showed yesterday and I know that you will show today.
"You are the example, you are the marker for how people should act and respect a place of worship and respect your loved ones who have died. It's important for me to say that publicly. You are absolutely an example to everyone.'
The funeral comes a few days after members of the Traveller community locally expressed their upset and disappointment at the closure of pubs and restaurants in Newbridge town as they mourned the tragic death of Jerry.
Speaking to The Irish Independent, Sinn Féin representative for Newbridge, James Stokes, who is also a member of the Traveller community, said the closure of these businesses while a family was in mourning is very 'disappointing'.
"It is very disappointing that travellers who are from Newbridge town and in mourning have been treated like this,' he said.
"If it was anyone else from another community who had died, these pubs and restaurants would not have closed. What's so sad about this is that this discrimination doesn't just happen in Newbridge, it happens all around Ireland whether it's a traveller's wedding, a funeral or a wake.'