Ian Redmond, aged 26, a native of Togher who had also lived in Little Island, died after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in an accident 160km south-east of Perth this week. Details surrounding the accident are still being investigated but the Department of Foreign Affairs said it stands ready to provide consular assistance.
Mr Redmond was described as a young man who was hugely popular with friends and who always had a smile on his face. He was the second Cork person to died abroad this week.
Local representatives in the Togher area said Mr Redmond was an inspiration to anyone who wanted to turn their lives around after tougher times in their early years. Cork city councillor and youth worker Thomas Moloney said: “I am utterly shocked. Ian was a young man I knew. He had it tough for a while in his younger years but had turned everything around. It’s devastating news.”
Fellow city councillor Mick Finn, who lived in Australia for three years, said his own friend had only met Mr Redmond out there last week.
“It is very sad news for Togher, sympathies to his family. Having lived over there for three years, I know what it’s like to be separated from friends and family and that makes Ian’s tragic death even harder for all who knew him.” Tributes were glowing on social media, with one friend saying: “So sad another life cut short, you were always such a happy smiley person, we always had good chats.”
Meanwhile, the principal of Mayfield Community School has expressed the deep sadness of staff and students following the tragic death of past pupil Ramona Fagan, from Ballinderry Park, in Tenerife.
Kieran Golden stated that the school was “shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former pupil”, who passed away following a fall from a balcony this week. Mr Golden remembered Ms Fagan as “a bright, bubbly young lady who always fully involved herself in our school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ramona’s family and all of her friends who are affected by this tragedy. She played a lead role in our school musical and will be missed by her former teachers and classmates.”
