Family members are expected to accompany the body home of an Annaghdown man who died following a fatal collision in Australia on Sunday. The whole community have been plunged into grief following the news that Ger Scully (30) lost his life in a road traffic accident Western Australia.
The community have been rallying around his parents Paddy and Bridie Scully from Woodpark, Annaghdown since news of the accident broke on Monday. He has been described as someone who always had a smile on his face.
Ger emigrated five years ago to Australia and spent 18 months in Sydney and then worked in the mines near Perth and, according to friends, got a job on a gas pipeline but had intended returning home for Christmas.
He attended Annaghdown Primary School and then Presentation College Headford before going on to getting a degree in civil engineering at NUIG. He had his heart set on trying a new life in Australia.
It was his intention to go to Vietnam before returning home but he never realised this dream as he was travelling to an airport in West Australia to get back to Perth when he was involved in the smash with a three carriage cargo lorry.
It is understood that it was also planned to meet his older brother John who had planned a tag rugby trip to Australia and both would then return for the Christmas. It was not be be.
Cllr James Charity was in the same class as Gerard in Presentation College Headford and said that the whole area was in a state of shock.
The entire community of Annaghdown is deeply saddened and shocked by Gerard’s untimely passing. We are still trying to come to terms with it.
“Having shared a classroom with Gerard in Presentation College Headford and played soccer with him for our local club, I always knew him as an absolute gentleman who never had a bad word to say about anyone and wasn’t ever seen without a smile on his face. My deepest sympathies go out to his parents Paddy and Bridie and as a community, we will do everything we possibly can to support them now and in the days, weeks and months ahead,” Cllr Charity added.
It is expected that the body of Ger will be returned to Ireland next week for the burial to take place. Already hundreds have been sympathising with the family.
Ger is survived by his parents, brothers John and Declan and sisters Marie and Laura. They are all traumatised by the news of the fatal collision.
