Funeral arrangements announced for soldier who died tragically in Longford collision

Tributes have poured in for a young soldier and motorcyclist following his tragic death in a crash in county Longford over the weekend.

The crash, which claimed the life of Ross Mulligan, occurred on the R198 at Kilnashee, Drumlish in the early hours of Saturday, August 10 at approximately 1:15am.

He is the second man to die in a Longford road collision this year. 

On Monday, July 8 last, on the N55, Damian Machnowski of 23 Church View, Ballymahon and formerly Śmiardowo Krajeńskie, Poland, died after the car he was driving struck a wall. 

Pte Ross ‘Mull’ Mulligan (31) was a native of Kilbarrack, Dublin, and it is understood that he was on his motorbike travelling to see friends when the tragedy occurred.

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Pte Mulligan will be forever loved and sadly missed by his heartbroken mam Tracey, dad Pat, step dad Terry, brother Jamie, grandad Christy, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, a wide circle of friends, his colleagues in the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company and Óglaigh na h-Eireann.

Pte Mulligan served with the 7th Infantry Battalion in Dublin before moving to the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company. 

The Defence Forces member had served abroad in Syria in the 67th Inf GP UNDOF, and was also a member of The DD44 Motorcycle Club.

Paying tribute, the Chaplaincy Service of the Irish Defence Forces said "it is with great sadness that the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service has learned of the tragic death of Pte Ross Mulligan 1 Mech. Ross and his family will be remembered in our prayers and masses this weekend’’.

A fellow Defence Forces member left a touching condolence online, saying he "had the pleasure of being Ross’ platoon commander in Syria on the 67th Inf Gp UNDOF".

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"A gentleman to the core and an extremely hard worker. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis," the tribute read.

The late Pte Mulligan also took part in airsoft, with an Airsoft organisation paying tribute.

"Many of you will have met Ross either helping out onsite in the early days or as fellow player & serving member of the Irish Defence Forces. A big quiet lad, always a smile, he will be sadly missed," Special Ops Airsoft said in a tribute post online.

The late Ross Mulligan will repose at his family home on Wednesday, August 14 from 12 noon to 7pm and on Thursday, August 15 from 12 noon to 7pm.

Funeral mass takes place on Friday, August 16 morning at 11am in the Church of the Holy Child, Larkhill, Whitehall followed by cremation in Dardistown Crematorium. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to The LauraLynn Hospice, a charity that was very dear to Ross. To donate Click Here

May Ross Rest In Peace.

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The R198, Longford to Drumlish road, was closed for much of Saturday as Garda Forensic Collision Investigators conducted a technical examination of the scene. 

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Gardaí are still appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the incident, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Longford Garda Station on 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

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