A woman whose husband died in a road accident eight years ago has published Ireland’s first guide for people who lose loved ones through road carnage.
Susan Gray’s world came crashing down around her when her husband Steve was killed by a learner driver on St.Stephen’s Day in 2004.
Steve, a taxi-driver, was hit as he was helping passengers to get out of his car in Inishowen.
Since then his beloved wife has set up a group Public Against Road Carnage (PARC).
Now the group has published Ireland’s first guide to help families affected by road carnage to deal with their trauma.
The book deals with helping families through their ordeal and how to cope with such issues as post mortems and dealing with Gardai and preparing them for court cases and inquests.
Mum-of-two Ms Gray said she hopes the book ‘Finding Your Way’ will be made available through all Garda liaison officers and other agencies.
“So many people out there simply don’t know what to do when something like this happens to a loved one and that is completely understandable.
“They don’t know what happens in an inquest or who they should consult about certain things.
“This book aims to answer all those questions in the painful days, months and years that follow a road death,” she said.
Among the relevant agencies, Mrs Gray and her organisation sought advice from was the Gardai and the Coroner’s Office.
“We went back time and time again to make sure every detail of the book was correct and that is why it took us a year.
“If it can help just one person overcome the loss of a loved one, then it will have all been worthwhile,” she said.
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