Tributes paid to two young men killed tragically in four-vehicle Tipperary crash

Tributes have been paid to 18-year-old David Lahart from Killenaule and 21-year-old Gediminas Urbonas from Holycross who were tragically killed in an horrific traffic accident in Ballinunty on Saturday evening.

The two young friends were occupants of the same car, which was one of four vehicles involved in the fatal collision on a local road at Killeen, Ballinunty shortly before 6pm on December 13. 

RIP: The late David Lahart 

The death of David Lahart has been greeted with deep shock and sadness in his hometown of Killenaule. 

Several local events such as the Killenaule Community Play Group raffle and bake sale and Killenaule GAA Bingo were cancelled over the past few days as a mark of respect.

David was son of Paudie Lahart and Ashling Morris and was a nephew of Tipperary GAA County Board Treasurer, Eleanor Lahart.

He is also survived by his siblings Megan, Rachel, Alex, Amber and Leah, his special nephew Jayden, stepmom Jacinta, loving grandparents Ned and Christine, aunts, uncles, cousins and a wide circle of friends.

As a mark of respect to his grieving family, the Tipperary GAA County Board Convention due to take place on Sunday was postponed as was the Under 21B South Football Final between Killenaule and Knockmealdown Gaels that was due to take place in Kilsheelan on Sunday morning.

Tipperary GAA extended its “heartfelt and sincere sympathies” to the families of those who lost their lives in Tipperary at the weekend.

“In particular our thoughts are with County Board Treasurer Eleanor Lahart and her family at this very sad and difficult time,” the organisation added.

Fianna Fáil Senator Imelda Goldsboro, from Ballingarry, extended her deepest condolences to the families of the late David Lahart and the late Gediminus Urbonas and said her “heart went out to them”. She said the coming days will be very difficult for their families, friends and local communities.

Senator Goldsboro wished a full recovery to the two young women hospitalised with injuries suffered in the Ballinunty crash and paid tribute to the emergency services personnel who worked at the scene of the awful tragedy.

She said her thoughts were with all the “hurting, angry and grieving” young people who knew and were friends of the accident victims.

Cllr Michael “Chicken” Brennan from Killenaule also expressed deepest sympathy to the families of the two deceased and spoke of the devastation felt in his hometown at the death of David Lahart.

Like Senator Goldsboro, he knows the Lahart family and grew up with David’s father Paudie.

Cllr Brennan said what had started out as a nice weekend for Killenaule with the local footballers due to play a final and other events planned ahead of Christmas, had turned into a very sad and tragic time.

He remembered David as a “very friendly, very outgoing and very mannerly” young man with a bright future ahead of him.
He said David worked with a tyre company and was due to start a new job in Clonmel in the new year.

‘Our hearts are heavy’

Killenaule GAA Club said it mourned the loss of its past player David Lahart.

“Our hearts are heavy after a tragic weekend that saw young lives lost on our roads far too soon,” the club said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

“As a community, we stand together in solidarity with his family, friends and former teammates, taking this time to remember and reflect.”

RIP: The late Gediminas Urbonas 

‘Most Loving Soul’

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraising campaign has been set up to fundraise to help the family of Gediminas Urbonas cover the costs of his funeral. 

The GoFundMe appeal has been set up by his older sister Saulena Urbonaite.

She wrote in her introduction to the appeal that her family are “extremely heartbroken and are mourning the loss of the most loving soul”.

“My brother, may you get the best bed in heaven. We love you so much,” she said.

Ms Urbonaite said the funds raised through the GoFundMe campaign will be used to help cover the costs of her brother’s funeral.

Gediminas, who was known to family and friends as Ged, is also survived by his parents Jolanta and Saulius, aunt Zaneta, cousin Ridas, other members of his loving family and a wide circle of friends. 

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