Irish man killed in Cairns crash

An Irish backpacker has been killed a crash in the city of Cairns in northern Australia.

Donal Bolton (23) from Co Offaly was sitting with his girlfriend on a bench in the town centre yesterday afternoon when a car crashed into them.

Mr Bolton was killed and his girlfriend was slightly injured. The couple had just arrived in Cairns the night before and stayed at a backpackers' hostel.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said consular staff were liaising with the Bolton family and also providing assistance to the dead man’s girlfriend.

His girlfriend was treated for a leg injury at the scene and was taken to Cairns Base Hospital. She has since been released from hospital.

The 33-year-old driver of the car, who suffered chest injuries, was also taken to the hospital. It is believed he may have suffered a seizure or collapsed behind the wheel

before he lost control on a pedestrian zone.

Monsignor Tom Coonan, local priest in the Ballinagar area, said the family was in deep shock. “It’s very sad, it’s a huge tragedy,” he said.

Msgr Coonan, who spent several hours with the Boltons, said they had been left devastated by their youngest son’s death, just weeks before he was due home at the end of this month from a year’s travelling. “His parents are shattered, in shock really," he said.

Mr Bolton’s father Hughie was a member of the 1982 All-Ireland winning Offaly football team which defeated Kerry in the final.

Additional reporting: PA