Man shares brother's final words before car crashed into them on St Patricks Day
A man who saw his elderly brother die last St Patrick' Day when a car crashed into them has revealed the last words that they ever shared.
The tragedy at Letterkenny in Donegal killed school lollipop man Anthony Gallagher and forced the cancellation of the town's annual parade. Witness accounts claimed that a car collided with Anthony and his brother Martin, both in their 60s, when it crashed into a building only metres from their home.
Loving brother Martin, who was critically injured and is still recovering from his injuries, watched his brother's funeral online from his hospital bed. He has now revealed he still has nightmares nearly three months after that awful night as they walked home.
Martin returned two weeks ago from Galway University Hospital to Letterkenny – but he has not visited Anthony's grave or the house they shared.
The heartbroken brother said: 'The last words I heard him say to me were, 'I don't think I'll go out on Paddy's night'. I said, 'You'll go out for one or two'. Those were the very words I said. The next thing, I felt a massive bang on my two legs.'
He added: 'I said to one of the guards, 'My legs are broken and my back is crushed'. She said, 'I know'. I turned around to Anthony. He was leaning over the car. I said, 'Anthony, my legs are broke'. I got no response from him. I started panicking. I said to the guard, 'Are you going to get me out?' She said she had to wait for the fire brigade to come and pull the car out. They took me out first and they said, 'Cut the trousers off this man and get him up to [Letterkenny University] hospital as quickly as you can'.'
Martin was taken to a room to see his brother and said: 'I went in and I said to the nurse, 'He's snoring'. She said, 'Unfortunately, that is the life support machine he is on'. She said, 'Your brother Anthony died'. I was holding his hand and the doctors told me I had to go to [hospital in] Galway right away to get surgery. That is the last I saw of my brother Anthony.'
Martin was airlifted to Galway University Hospital and underwent extensive reconstructive surgery, including the insertion of plates and pins. He said: 'I had to lie in bed for six-and-a-half weeks. I wasn't allowed to move. I had to watch my brother's funeral from my hospital bed. There was a priest with me and one of the nurses, but it was very hard.'
He added: 'It was very hard, learning to walk again, but I just pushed through it. The doctors in Galway were very happy with my legs. That is why they let me go back to Letterkenny.' Of returning to the house that he shared with Anthony, he said: 'It is going to be hard to open the front door. He would have normally been sitting at the table or sitting over on the chair. I am still having nightmares; I can still see the scene of the accident.'
A male in his teens was released without charge in March and Garda investigations are ongoing.
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