A woman who prayed for those involved in a motorway crash after seeing footage on social media later found out that one of the victims was a relative.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, is a relative of Paul Ingram, who was killed alongside his friend Brian McFarlane in a freak accident as the pair rode motorcycles along the M50 on the outskirts of Dublin last week.
The pair, who were on holiday from England, are thought to have accidentally bumped into each other before being hit by a passing lorry as they lay on the tarmac.
Footage of the crash spread online and the woman watched it without realising she was viewing a relative being killed, saying his family had only been informed of the tragedy after videos were posted online.
She said in quotes reported by Dublin Live : “I sadly saw the videos before I realised it was Paul.
“I was sickened and sad and prayed for the poor families that this happened to, then I realised on Saturday morning that it was my family.”
Mr Ingram, a widower from Moulton in Northampton and Mr McFarlane, who resided in the Oxfordshire village of Sutton Courtenay, were on Harley Davison motorbikes when they were killed.
Having accidentally collided with each other and fallen on to the carriageway, they lay helpless on the road and a truck that was travelling behind them had no chance to avoid the friends and slammed into them.
Both men suffered horrendous injuries and were killed instantly.
It is believed gardai had to use DNA technology to formally identify them.
Within minutes of the crash on the northbound carriageway at 2.15pm, videos appeared online showing scenes of the accident.
Investigating gardai appealed for people not to share the clips. And the relative of Mr Ingram, whose wife Lesley died around five years ago, last night said the family was horrified by the videos.
She said the only consolation was that lifelong biker Mr Ingram died doing what he loved.
She said: “Paul was a passionate bike rider. He was a rider all of his life.
“The only comfort the family will ever have is knowing he sadly passed doing what he loved.”
Gardai are still investigating the incident, which caused massive tailbacks on the busy motorway for several hours.
Witnesses should call Lucan Garda Station on 01 6667300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
