A young woman who gave birth to her first child just three weeks ago has been killed in a hit-and-run, gardaí reported.
Marguerita Sheridan died after a silver Ford transit van hit her at Bank Place in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, shortly after midday on Saturday.
The driver failed to remain at the scene to help the 22-year-old mother, who had been married for just a year, or to alert emergency services of the crash.
People in the vicinity of the incident tried to help the seriously injured woman as she lay on the ground. Ms Sheridan was rushed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for urgent treatment but was tragically pronounced dead on Saturday night.
It is believed she was trying to close the gates at a house on Bank Place at the time of the incident. Respects has been paid to her
on social media, expressing profound sadness at her death, with her husband John Sheridan leading the tributes. Mr Sheridan posted: ‘My best, my baby girl, I can’t believe it. I lost my Maggie today. Rest in peace.’
Mr Sheridan shared a photo of his wife and baby son in tribute on his Facebook page. Scores of Ms Sheridan’s relatives and friends paid online tributes with one describing her as a ‘beautiful, intelligent young lady’, while another said: ‘RIP. Such a
lovely girl, gone too soon.’
A friend of Mr Sheridan’s added: ‘Sorry for your loss, John, may she get the best bed in heaven. ‘It’s every mother and father’s
worst nightmare to lose their lovely precious child.’
Another commented: ‘It’s a bad cruel world we live in. God takes the youngest and good. I can’t believe I am even writing this.
Please watch over your beautiful baby boy and your husband and family at this hard time.’
Gardaí carried out a technical examination of the location on Saturday and are now hunting for the driver.
In a statement, they said: ‘Gardaí responded to the scene of a serious incident involving a vehicle that occurred at the entrance of a private property in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.
‘The vehicle, a silver Ford Transit van, failed to remain at the scene. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to
come forward.’ Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were in the area between 11.30 am and 1 pm on Saturday are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.
‘Anyone with any information is asked to contact Rathkeale Garda Station on 069 63222, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800
666 111, or any Garda station,’ said a Garda spokesman.
