Co Mayo woman and son killed in Pakistan road crash

Two people from a Co Mayo family have been killed in a road crash in Pakistan.

Three other family members were injured in the incident.

55-year-old Noreen Shafiq and her 18-year-old son Umar both sustained fatal injuries, after the car they were in collided with a bus.

Three other members of the Shafiq family, who live in Ballinrobe, were injured in the collision. It happened yesterday in the Faisalabad district of the province of Punjab.

Ms Shafiq’s husband, Shafique, and other family members, Tahime and Ambreen, have all been hospitalised.

The family were visiting Tariqabad, Faisalabad, and were travelling to Gojra in their car when the accident occurred.

Locals around Ballinrobe, where the Shafiqs have resided for over 15 years, have been left shocked and stunned by the tragedy.

‘Dark cloud cast’ over Ballinrobe

Local councillor Damian Ryan said the town was numbed and deeply saddened by the devastating news.

He said: “The family is well known and respected locally and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to them on their immeasurable loss.

“Umar had just completed his Leaving Cert at Ballinrobe Community School a number of weeks ago and he played for Ballinrobe Town since the age of eight or nine.

“A dark cloud has been cast over the town as a result of this terrible, terrible tragedy.

“The family have asked for privacy at this time and their wishes should be respected.”

Deaths ‘heartbreaking beyond words’

Councillor Michael Burke also joined in extending condolences to the Shafiq family.

“The community will rally around and support them in every way possible” he said, describing the deaths as “heartbreaking beyond words”.

The oratory at Ballinrobe Community School has been opened for students wishing to visit it for silent prayer.

Ballinrobe Town FC has expressed sympathies to the Shafiq family and the club’s fixtures have been postponed by the Mayo Football League this weekend as a mark of respect.

The club has sent out messages to the younger players who knew Umar well, offering access to supports to help them cope with the loss.

Umar was a popular club member and was named as goalkeeper on the Mayo Under-18 Division Two Team of the Year in 2023.

He also represented Mayo at under-age level on a number of occasions.