Mullingar 'devastated' as three people killed in Malaga crash named locally

James Cox

A community in Mullingar, Co Westmeath is reeling following the death of three people in a crash in Malaga, Spain.

The victims have been named locally as Mark McCullagh and Michaela Newcombe, who were a couple, and Amy McCullagh.

A fourth person, Ian McCullagh was seriously injured in the crash, which happened in the early hours of yesterday morning on a motorway near Malaga.

They were on holidays at the time of the crash.

The crash happened on the A7 motorway west of Malaga at about 2.30am on Sunday.

The car in which the Irish group were travelling went through a barrier and plunged down an embankment, police said.

A woman in the other car involved was treated at the scene for minor injuries, and a spokesman for the Civil Guard police force told The Irish Times that she would be interviewed as part of the investigation.

Local TD and Minister of State Robert Troy said there is a dark cloud over the community.

"I know one family particularly well, they're from my home village of Ballynacargy. I spoke to the mother of the girl who lost her life in that accident and understandably she was just inconsolable... heartbroken.

"It is any parent's worst nightmare to get that phone call."