Westmeath family's heartbreak after death of local woman following Galway crash

The tragic death has been announced of a pregnant Westmeath mother following a crash in Galway earlier this month.

Irene Lynch (34), of St Ruth's Park, Athlone, died at University Hospital Galway yesterday (Monday), surrounded by her family, after the road accident in Galway city ten days earlier.

The local woman was a front-seat passenger in a car which collided with a wall and entered the water in the Menlo area. The driver, a man in his 40s, was also taken to hospital after the incident.

One of Ms Lynch's sisters, Marcella, posted a loving tribute to her on social media, writing that her "heart is broken beyond repair".

"Ten days we watched you lie there, praying for you to be okay, but unfortunately God had other plans for you and your little baby, my niece or nephew," she wrote.

Irene Lynch is predeceased by her infant daughter, Lauren, and her grandparents.

He death is deeply regretted by her heartbroken son Daniel, daughter Isobel, parents Pat and Anne, sisters Dymphna, Marcella, Marina and Naomi, brothers Pat, Stephen and Breen, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many friends.

Her funeral arrangements are to be announced later.

Gardai have appealed for road users who may have camera or dash-cam footage of the road accident in Menlo, between 6am and 7am on March 15, to make that footage available to them.