New mum who gave birth on Sunday dies in motorway crash

The young woman tragically killed by a truck on the M8 motorway yesterday had only become a mother for the first time on Sunday.

Nicola Kenny (26), from Thurles in Co Tipperary, was travelling to Dublin after her day-old daughter was transferred to Temple Street hospital because of concerns for her health.

But while making the journey Nicola, who was traveling with her mother Ann, and aunt Irene, who was driving, received a phone call from the hospital.

They pulled into the hard shoulder of the M8 motorway to take the call, which was the good news that little baby Lily-Rose was recovering well and was about to be transferred back to Clonmel hospital where she was born.

It was just after the phone conversation ended when a truck smashed into the back of the car, killing Nicola, who was in the back seat and injuring her mother and aunt.

The crash happened at 12.25pm in the northbound side of the M8 between junctions 9 and 10 near Dogstown.

Nicola’s mother received a broken arm and a shoulder injury in the impact but is now back at the family home grieving for her daughter.

Nicola’s aunt, Irene, is in the intensive care unit of University Hospital Limerick.