Tributes to pensioner killed in Rathfriland bin lorry crash

Tributes have been paid to a Rathfriland woman who died yesterday after a collision with a Banbridge District Council bin lorry.
Emergency services attend two-vehicle crash in RathfrilandEmergency services attend two-vehicle crash in Rathfriland
Emergency services attend two-vehicle crash in Rathfriland

Rev Liam Rutherford of Ballydown Presbyterian Church confirmed last night that the woman who died was Hester Brown. She attended nearby Clonduff Presbyterian Church, which is currently without a minister.

Police confirmed that a woman died following a two-vehicle collision in Downpatrick Street in Rathfriland.

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A PSNI spokeswoman said the woman was from the local area and was in her eighties.

He appealed for information about the collision “that occurred between a lorry and a red Rover 100 car” just before 12.30pm yesterday.

Clonduff Presbyterian Church elder Junior McKnight said the church family was shocked by Ms Brown’s sudden death.

“Hester lived on her own and was a very honest and very private woman,” he said. “She had not been able to attend church for a while due to ill health.”

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She had worked all her life as secretary to a Rathfriland solicitor, he said.

Hester was not married and had no children. She owned a small farm on the Bannfield Road in the area, which she rented out.

She had also occasionally attended the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the town, he added.

UUP Councillor Elizabeth Ingram said Ms Brown was quite elderly but very active.

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“This was a very big shock to the town,” she said. “She had travelled into town to do her shopping. She was held in very high regard.

“I would like to pass on my deepest sympathy to her family circle on her tragic passing and assure them that the thoughts and prayers of many people in the town are with them.”

Police asked for anyone who was in the area or anyone who noticed either vehicle around the time of the collision to contact Banbridge Police Station or the Collision Investigation Unit in Steeple Police Station on the non-emergency number 101.

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