*Helga Himmeslbach. Photograph: John Mangan
TIME FOR talking is over and action must now be delivered, a North Clare widow whose husband was killed in Ballyvaughan has said on the efforts to improve road safety in the area.
Musicians for road safety gathered in Ballyvaughan on Saturday for a one hour concert on what was the first anniversary of Jerry O’Connor’s death. The concert took place where Jerry died when his motorbike was struck by a French tourist just outside Ballyvaughan on July 27 last.
Speaking in Ballyvaughan on Saturday, Jerry’s widow Helga Himmelsbach said, “Jerry was butchered to death by a French person who yesterday (Friday) pleaded guilty to speeding on the wrong side of the road, Jerry was cleared of all responsibility for the accident, he couldn’t have done a thing differently, he could not have avoided having every bone in his body broken several times and his head smashed in by a tourist on the wrong side of the road, speeding at ten to ten of a Thursday morning, that could have been prevented by our authorities but we know the story.
“I think the time is words is over and the time for action has begun, positive action that will keep all of us safe, for today it will keep all of us in a good frame of mind and that is where our musicians are here”.
An Garda Síochána gave permission for the section of the N67 from Ballyvaughan to Lisdoonvarna to be closed to the facilitate the concert on Saturday.
However there was a tense exchange near the end of the concert when a male driver of a van attempted to drive through the concert. Helga stood in front of the van to ensure he did not pass.
Brendan Cusack from Lisdoonvarna was among those asked to assist with stewarding on the roads for the free concert. He confirmed that a permit had been secured by Helga and said “a small number of drivers questioned if the organisers had got a permit for the road closure”. Bus companies were contacted by organisers in advance of the concert to advise them of the disruption to traffic.
