MLA who lost his son opens up about tragic death of schoolgirl in County Armagh crash

Q Radio News

An Assembly member has opened up about the tragic road crash death yesterday in County Armagh of a young girl, his granddaughter's best friend....

Nine-year-old Patrycja died in a single-vehicle collision outside Armagh city.

She'd been a backseat passenger in a car driven by a man in his 60s, who was injured.

MLA for Newry-Armagh William Irwin says her family were originally from Poland but live in Richhill.

The little girl had been a pupil at Hardy Memorial Primary School in the village.

Mr. Irwin has told Q Radio his granddaughter is devastated...

He also knows the pain of losing a child as his teenage son Philip died in a swimming pool accident 22 years ago this week....

Education Authority counselling teams will be on site at at Hardy Memorial today and a special assembly will be held in the school this morning.

MLA William Irwin on death of young girl in Armagh crash - his granddaughter's best friend. Mr. Irwin suffered tragic loss himself 22 years ago this week when his son died. "Nothing prepares you for the loss of a child. I feel for this family.” On air & https://t.co/boX2EdCtC7 pic.twitter.com/mokD52Z3IR

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 26, 2019

Patrycja's last name has not been released by police following a request from her family. 

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