Athlone soldier laid to rest with military honours

An Athlone soldier, who was killed in an early morning crash near Knockcroghery on Saturday, was laid to rest in Roscommon yesterday (Tuesday) Private Ronan McCormack from Roscommon town passed away after being involved in a crash on the N61 between Knockcroghery and Roscommon at about 1.20am on Saturday. Ronan, who was 26 and from Oaklawn Drive, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, was a member of the 4th Field Engineer Company in Custume Barracks and had joined the Defence Forces in 2001. It was a two vehicle collision and the driver of the other car was taken to Roscommon County Hospital with injuries described as not life threatening. The road was closed for some time on Saturday for an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Ronan McCormack was buried with military honours in St Coman's Cemetery yesterday afternoon following Mass of the Resurrection at the Sacred Heart Church in Roscommon. The Defence Forces said in a statement that it would like to extend its deepest sympathies to Ronan's family on their tragic loss. Ronan is survived by his parents Bob and Jacqui, sisters Angelina and Fiona, brother Clement, brother-in-law Shane, nephew Gavin, godson Joey, nanny Frances McCormack (Gortgallen), granny Kathleen, granddad Tommy Joe, uncles, aunts, cousins, a huge circle of friends and his colleagues at Custume Barracks.