'The lovely lady' - tears and tributes for woman killed in horror collision

Irish Daily Mirror

26-05-2025

An elderly pedestrian killed when she was hit by a bus on Monday has been described as a 'lovely neighbour' who was 'the salt of the earth.'
Named locally as Colette Campbell, in her 80s, she is one of five women who lost their lives in separate road crashes in counties Louth, Meath, Wexford, Clare and Tyrone over the weekend.
Ms Campbell has been described by local councillor Bernie Conlon as 'a lovely neighbour with a heart of gold.'
Ms Campbell, who lived on Main Street in Dunleer, Co Louth is understood to have just left her home when she was struck by a bus at approximately 12.20pm on Lower Main Street on Monday.
Ms Campbell was transferred by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where she was sadly pronounced dead.
Her tragic death has left the local community in shock
Speaking to Irish Mirror on Monday afternoon, Cllr Conlon said: 'I and the whole community are in shock for the lovely lady, Colette Campbell, who lost her life.
'She was a lovely neighbour who had a heart of gold. I am a neighbour of the McCreanor and Campbell families. It's so sad that at her age she lost her life through tragic circumstances," said Cllr Conlon.
'I am deeply saddened by the loss of Colette which has saddened the whole community.
"Everyone knew Colette and she was the salt of the earth," said Cllr Conlon.
"I am also so sorry for the emergency services ambulance, the Garda, the paramedics and the fire brigade personnel that came upon such a heartbreaking accident and I feel for the bus driver as well.'
The road was closed on Monday afternoon for a technical examination of the scene to be conducted and diversions were in place.
Investigating Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: 'Any road users who were at Lower Main Street, Dunleer, between 12:10pm and 12:30pm on Monday, May 26 and may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.'
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Ms Campbell's death brings to five the number of women who lost their lives in separate road collisions over the weekend.
Mother-of-three and grandmother Theresa Morgan (63), from Ashbourne, Co Meath died when she was struck by a car on the Dublin Road (R135), in Ashbourne on Saturday. Ms Morgan, who was a pedestrian, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another female pedestrian, aged in her 20s, was killed in Wexford on Saturday at around 3pm on the R702 Curragraigue, Enniscorthy.
Separately, a female cyclist, understood to be a Canadian tourist on a cycling trip to Ireland, was killed in an incident involving a tractor in Tulla, Co Clare on Saturday.
And in Tyrone, Bernadette 'Bernie' Cranley, 82, who was from Lifford in Co. Donegal, died after a two vehicle crash off the A5.
Ms Cranley was the driver of a silver Toyota Vitz which was involved in a collision with a blue Suzuki Vitara on the Mellon Road between Omagh and Newtownstewart near the Ulster American Folk Park around 12.30pm on Saturday.