Irish driver in ‘very serious’ condition after 3 pals killed in Spain hols crash as new details emerge & tributes paid
TWO young Irish couples pose for a photo during a dream holiday to Spain — just hours before three of them were tragically killed in a horror motorway crash.
Passengers Amy McCullagh, brother-in-law Mark McCullagh and his partner Michaela Newcombe, aged between 24 and 32, died in the crash near Malaga at around 2.30am on Sunday.
Driver Ian McCullagh, 31, who is Amy’s husband and Mark’s brother, is tonight in a “very serious” condition in Carlos Haya Hospital.
All four are from Mullingar, Co Westmeath — where local councillor Michael Dollard said there is a “lot of gloom” after the “very sad news” filtered around the area.
He added: “It shows how fragile life is.”
The crash occurred on the A7 motorway — with their rental Mercedes-Benz Brabus jeep going through a barrier and plunging 100ft down a steep embankment.
Their vehicle hit another a car, with the occupant, a woman in her 60s, treated for minor injuries.
The Merc destroyed a number of trees as it plummeted down. It came to a halt on a nearby street.
The accident occurred near the Cerrado de Calderon exit, close to a neighbourhood of the same name in the western part of Malaga.
A Spanish police source said the crash happened after the “loss of control” of the couples’ car.
An investigation is ongoing and a woman in the second car involved is set to be interviewed to try establish the circumstances.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard police force today confirmed the driver, Ian, “is in hospital and his condition is very serious”.
But he said it is “too early” to say what caused the crash.
The spokesman added: “A series of technical data will enable investigators to determine the speed the crash vehicle was doing. If not the exact speed, then very close to it.
“These cars nowadays don’t have a black box, but they have information via computers that is going to facilitate the work of the investigators and obtain certain data.”
The two couples only flew out for the holiday last week. They are understood to have been staying at a coastal resort in Andalusia.
Hours before the crash, they all smiled as they posed for photos outside the plush Puente Romano hotel resort in nearby Marbella.
Survivor Ian and Amy, who have a number of young kids together, had only wed in Malaga less than two years ago, on August 22, 2024.
Amy worked as a healthcare assistant at Midland Regional Hospital, in Mullingar.
Michaela was a receptionist at beauty salon Havana Sun Mullingar for over three years. The business remained closed today as a mark of respect to her.
Posting on Facebook, the salon said: “Today, with broken hearts, we say goodbye to our beautiful Michaela.
“The face and the heart of our salon. The one who would fight for the people she loved.
“The first person to make everyone feel welcome. The kindest, friendliest soul. The keeper of everyone’s secrets. A sunshine lover.
“You never made a fuss about yourself. You’d be shocked to see how many hearts you’ve broken by leaving us, how many people miss you, and just how many people love you.
“I only wish you knew how special you were to so many of us.
“Our salon will never be the same, and we won’t even try to pretend it will be.
“On behalf of your work family. On behalf of the clients. On behalf of the whole town of Mullingar, with deep sadness, rest in peace our Michaela.”
Customers remembered her as a “kind, caring and beautiful soul”.
One, Urs Dalton, said: “Michaela was full of life, so talented in every way, the gift of the gab, always smiling always a kind word for everyone she meet.
“She touched every person she meet in this life and I for one am so happy I got to know her over the past few years in Havana.
“Condolences to her family’s friends and all you girls at Havana — it’s gonna be hard go back in not seeing her beautiful big smile there. RIP to an angel.”
Another, Eimear Doolin, added: “Can’t believe the news. Such a beautiful soul. I’m so sorry to all of you on such a sad loss, her big smile and bubbly personality will be missed so incredibly in there.”
TD Robert Troy today told how he knows the family of one of those who died very well.
The Fianna Fail rep for Longford and Westmeath, who spoke to them on Sunday, said: “Needless to say, they’re absolutely devastated. It’s the worst of phone calls to get.
“They only went on holidays at the end of last week, and to get this call yesterday evening was heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with that family and indeed all families that are affected.”
Deputy Troy today added: “Their families are processing now that some of them are not coming back home. That is an awful thing to have to deal with.
“What they need now is the time, space and necessary supports, and they will get the necessary supports from the embassy. It’s really tragic. It’s sad for the family.”
Fr Norman Allred, a priest in Mullingar, vowed the community would rally to support the family.
He said: “It’s a heartbreaking day. The parish is holding everybody close in prayer, gathering information as best we can.
“And we’re ready to help family members, help friends, help anyone who needs prayer and condolence at this time, and through these next several days.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said Irish consular teams in Spain are offering support.
She added: “This is an absolutely devastating accident, devastating for all of the families involved.
“We’ve reached out immediately to those involved. It’s a matter to try and identify what has happened here, to understand how this could have happened, and to provide the consular support and assistance to all of the families that are involved.
“We have a person who’s still critically ill and in hospital, and I really do wish them a recovery, and I hope that the recovery goes well.
“But it is a tragic accident, and the most important thing now is that their families are supported.
“My Department and the consular teams on the ground in Malaga are doing just that and will continue to provide them with assistance.”
