By Lisa Ramsden
MESSAGES of sympathy have poured in for the family of the young woman who died in a car crash outside Kilkeel on Monday evening.
Twenty-four-year-old Aoife Tinnelly, who came from Kilkeel and whose father Jarlath is a local councillor, was involved in a two-vehicle collision on the Newry Road.
Her funeral Mass will take place on Saturday morning at St Colman’s Church, Massforth.
Yesterday morning, her devastated father broke the news when he posted a tribute to her online.
Sharing an image and honouring his daughter’s life, Mr Tinnelly described her as ‘my beautiful baby Aoife’.
His post led to many hundreds of messages of sympathy, including those from a number of MLAs and councillors, as well as heartfelt tributes to Aoife.
Two other people were hospitalised following the collision, which involved a white Audi A1 car and a blue Mercedes Benz.
Aoife, who it is understood worked at a local nursery, has been described as ‘the most beautiful soul’, with another of the many people extending their sympathies to her family circle going on to say: ‘Aoife was such a beautiful girl’.
A local mum, whose son had been cared for by Aoife, described her as ‘a beautiful girl taken too soon’.
She went on to write: ‘Aoife was such a special girl, her bubbly personality always put a smile on your face. My son absolutely adored ‘his Aoife’. She will be sorely missed!’
Meanwhile, and in one of the many messages of sympathy, a local woman wrote: ‘The staff at Kilbroney Integrated Primary School are absolutely heartbroken to hear this news. “We have the fondest memories of our treasured past pupil Aoife.’
A family notice, released late yesterday, described Aoife as ‘a darling daughter’, a ‘loving sister’, and a ‘much-loved granddaughter’.
It continued: ‘Aoife will be sorely missed by her heartbroken parents, her sister and brothers and extended loving families as well as her dearest loving friends’.
Police have urged witnesses to the collision to come forward.
Issuing an appeal, an officer from the PSNI Collision Investigation Unit said: “Shortly before 6.30pm, we received a report of a collision involving a white Audi A1 and blue Mercedes Benz on the Newry Road.
“Officers alongside colleagues from other emergency services attended, however very sadly Aoife was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Two other people were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.
“Our enquiries are continuing, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or to anyone who may have CCTV, dash-cam or other footage that could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 1288 20/04/26.”
