Clare community 'completely devastated' by Stephanie Fitzpatrick's death

Stephanie, who recently celebrated her 38th birthday, was killed when the car she was travelling in struck a tree before overturning in the middle of the road on Saturday.

She was pronounced dead at the scene with a post-mortem later held at the University Hospital Limerick.

The driver, a man aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving, but was later released without charge.

Stephanie’s death has rocked the community in north Clare, with local Fine Gael councillor Joe Garrihy describing the incident as “shocking.”

“It’s just been a completely devastating event for the family and the whole community. It’s left everybody completely devastated,” he told sundayworld.com.

“It’s been very tough for the whole community, especially her family so I just want to send my deepest sympathies from me and the whole community will be there with them and help them in any way possible. It’s just shocking.”

Cllr Garrihy described Stephanie as “the most joyous and fun-loving and friendly, happy person you could ever meet.”

“She was such a young person full of life and so popular and so full of joy and was taken in such tragic circumstances.”

Stephanie’s funeral is due to take place on Thursday, February 24th, at 11am in Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna.

Cllr Garrihy said that “the whole community of north Clare will be there trying to support the family in every way possible” on the day.

“They are a highly respected family, a much-loved family. They’ve been involved in every aspect of community life for generations, all of them. It just makes it all the more difficult.

“Her two older brothers and sister are in Australia. I can’t even imagine getting that news so far away from home.

"The whole community will do what they can to support the family and each other," he added.

Stephanie is predeceased by her father Patrick and survived by her mother Biddy, brothers Pauric, Gerry, Noel, Kieran, and Fintan, and sisters Marian, Carole, Tina, and Eilish.