Funeral of council worker who died during Storm Eunice to take place on Wednesday

The funeral of the Co Wexford council worker who was killed while clearing fallen debris from Storm Eunice will take place on Wednesday.

Mourners will gather at the Church of Our Lady of the Nativity in Ballyfad, Co Wexford to remember Billy Kinsella, who died on Friday in the Ballythomas area when a freak gust of wind toppled a tree near to the one he had been working to remove. The man from Clonroe had only been employed with the local authority as part of its road crew for about five or six years.

A popular member of his local community, Kinsella leaves behind him his wife Rita and their son Conor, aged in his 20s.

Tributes poured in for a “gentleman” and a “great husband and father”.

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In a statement Wexford County Council said "Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee's family, work colleagues and friends at this very difficult time," it said.

Fine Gael councillor and neighbour Anthony Donohoe was rocked by Mr Kinsella's passing, saying: "The entire community is just numb. Billy was very well-known and well respected locally and it's devastating news for his family.

“He was a lovely man and if there was anything he could do to help you, he would.”

Mr Kinsella was also described as a “hard-working and quiet family man” by another neighbour, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin.

Status red wind warnings were issued for several counties during Storm Eunice. Record winds of up to 196km/h (122 miles per hour) hit parts of Europe, killing at least nine people, knocking out power for tens of thousands and shredding the roof of London’s O2 arena.