Northern Ireland

Teenager Kimberley O'Connor killed in Cork car crash was 'kind and generous person'

Kimberley O'Connor (16) was killed in a car crash in Cork on Wednesday night
Kimberley O'Connor (16) was killed in a car crash in Cork on Wednesday night Kimberley O'Connor (16) was killed in a car crash in Cork on Wednesday night

The mother of a teenage girl killed in a car crash in Cork has told of how her family's lives "are shattered".

Jennifer O'Connor said her 16-year-old daughter Kimberley "had a bright future", describing her as a "kind and generous person".

The teenager was a passenger in a car that hit a wall on Harbour View Road at Knocknaheeny at around 11.45pm on Wednesday

The young woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two 17-year-old boys in the back of the car were taken to Cork University Hospital, where one was last night said to be in a critical condition.

The driver of the car, who is believed to be 16, fled the scene on foot, but later presented himself at Mercy University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

There were no other cars involved.

Posting a statement on Twitter, following the death of her daughter - who was a transition year student at the Terence MacSwiney Community College - Jennifer O'Connor said: "Our lives are shattered and it is difficult to put into words how we are feeling.

"Our Kimberly had a bright future and was a very kind and generous person who was loved by so many people."

Phil O'Flynn, principal of Terence MacSwiney Community College, described Kimberly as one of their leading lights, a beautiful and talented student.

"We are like a family here," she said.

"We are quite a small school on the northside, we know everybody so well.

"They know us and our hearts are broken for those families today who are just trying to find meaning out of this".