'Cloud of gloom' at loss of Aine

A NURSE who was killed in a hit-and-run had a “warm, open smile and an easygoing attitude to make everybody comfortable”, her funeral mass heard yesterday.

- BY CATHAL RYAN and GRAINNE NI AODHA

MUCH LOVED Áine O'Reilly was killed in Boher, Limerick, last Friday

(Joe Buckley / Limerick Leader)

Aine O'Reilly, 33, died in a three-car collision on the N24 near Grange West, Boher, Limerick, last Friday night.

The male driver of the vehicle which hit her car fled the scene.

Aine was travelling to Limerick’s out-of-hours GP service Shannondoc for an overnight shift when she was killed.

Mourners, led by parents Ann and Eugene and siblings James, Eoin, Conor and Aisling, packed St John the Baptist Church in Nicker, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, to pay their final respects.

Fr Tomas O'Connell told the congregation: “Aine’s life was one of putting herself [after] others, and it is so tragic that in the twinkling of an eye, that life of giving was taken from her.

“There was a palpable silence here, as the huge cloud of gloom - is all I would call it - settled over this area, if not indeed the entire country.

“We gather as a community in prayer and in grief and to be with Aine’ family”

Aine’ brother Eoin told mourners: