The wife of a businessman who died after trying to stop his car being stolen by thugs described him as an incredible father taken by the “greatest evil” at his funeral today.
Ian McDonnell was found on the road with life-threatening injuries on January 23 after he was hit by his own Volkswagen Passat in Clondalkin, Dublin.
The 50-year-old dad of three desperately tried to prevent the theft of his car, a grey Volkswagen Passat, and he was carried a significant distance on the bonnet.
The car was stolen by three thieves at his business premises and Ian, who was left to die on the road, passed away five days later at Tallaght University Hospital.
Wife Monica McDonnell, who was married to Ian for nearly 22 years, paid tribute to the devoted family man in her eulogy during his funeral mass in Elphin, Co Roscommon, today.
She said: “Ian’s greatest passion was his family.
“Becoming a father was the proudest moment in Ian’s life, a responsibility and a duty he carried with great honour.
“He was an incredible father, standing at every sideline on freezing Sunday mornings wondering how he could be at three separate matches in three different parts of Dublin.
Monica, who said Ian also loved planning family breaks and summer holidays, added: “Ian had tremendous attributes, he was very traditional, loyal, respectful and above all a man of great honesty and integrity.”
A photograph of Ian beaming with a smile was placed on top of his coffin, and a flower arrangemet which formed the word ‘Dad’ were placed beneath it.
Symbols of Ian’s life brought to the altar by his children Clodagh, 17, Gareth, 16, and 11-year-old Aoife included a Manchester United FC scarf, a rally helmet and a model of a Volkswagen Beetle car.
The couple married one year after they bought their house in Lucan in 1999 and Ian spent many years managing construction projects before he moved into the motor trade.
Monica said: “There were many great passions in Ian’s life, his love of cars from a young age and spectating and participating in various car rally events throughout the country.
“The pinnacle of this achievement, completing the circuit of Ireland in 2003.
“He just loved cars, from fast cars to classic cars and his beloved Beetle.
“The children would often joke with me that with him unless there’s a steering wheel attached to it, you can forget it.”
The grieving wife was visibly emotional as she recalled how their lives changed forever when Ian was fatally injured on January 23.
She said: “The greatest evil I could imagine passed through our lives like sliding doors on Sunday the 23rd of January that has altered our lives eternally.
“However, what has surpassed that viciousness has been the existence of the greatest good.”
Monica thanked her extended family and neighbours in Dublin for the “overpowering kindness, humanity, compassion and support”.
She said Ian’s late father John was a bank manager and it was to her “great fortune” that after a promotion in the early-1980s the family relocated to Elphin, Co Roscommon.
Monica said: “I remember vividly seeing Ian for the first time, I was sitting in the car with my mam on the street downtown when this vibrant, red Nissan Bluebird pulled up in front of us.
“A tall blonde boy got out of the car and mam asked, ‘who is that young fella, I don’t know him?’.
“I said that’s Ian McDonnell, the new bank manager’s son and God I think he’s lovely.
“Childhood sweethearts we would become, a love that would last for 32 years.
“Love you always Ian.”
