A Limerick family has been hit by a second tragedy with the death of their 21-year-old son in a bus crash in Peru just five years after another son was killed in a car accident.
Mr David Scollard (21), Friarstown, Grange, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was killed when a double-decker bus missed a bridge and plunged into a dry river bed in Peru early on Wednesday morning.
Five Peruvian nationals were killed in the crash, and 37 other passengers were injured, including Mr Scollard's travelling companion, Mr David O'Grady (19), from Dublin. Mr O'Grady's injuries have been described as minor.
The accident happened at 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday on a bridge crossing in the Andes mountains between Lake Titicaca and the Inca capital of Cuzco.
The bus was travelling without insurance or a licence to operate a coach service.
Five years ago the Scollard family lost another son, 20-year-old Michael.
He died following a car crash on the Rosbrien Road on the outskirts of Limerick city in June 1999 when he was returning home from a 21st birthday party.
His family, including David, the youngest child, gathered for a fifth anniversary Mass at the family home in Grange, Co Limerick, just two months ago.
The local parish priest and family friend, Father Michael Hickey, last night described this latest tragedy for the family as "devastating".
"To lose one child is a cross, to lose a second child is a crucifixion," he said.
"The whole family is just numb. They are in pieces.
"It's difficult, indeed it's impossible to have adequate words to describe how they are feeling now."
Father Hickey added: "They are simply bereft of words. To have their youngest child snatched away in the same way is just devastating."
Mr Scollard had been travelling for the last five weeks and was due home in the middle of September to return to University College Dublin, where he had been studying maths.
"This was a trip of a lifetime for David. He was such a lovely boy and extremely bright," said Father Hickey.
"He was at home in June when all the family gathered for a special anniversary Mass for Michael," he added.
Classmates and friends of Mr Scollard have been calling to the maths faculty of the college to express their sympathies, a spokeswoman for UCD said yesterday.
"There was a huge sense of sadness in the university on hearing of David's death. Students, friends and lecturers have been expressing their grief on hearing of the loss of a very fine student and friend."
It is understood that Mr O'Grady is also a student at UCD.
Mr Scollard is survived by his parents, John and Olive; his sisters, Joanne (24), Olivia (29) and Sarah (26); and his brother, Shane (28).
It is understood some members of his family are planning to travel to Peru.
Mr Scollard's family are being offered consular assistance by the Irish Embassy in Mexico and the consulate in Peru.