GAA star tells how he held late wife while trapped in car following horrific crash that left three dead

Ciara McElvanna was one of three people killed in the accident near Markethill.

The 44-year-old died in hospital in Belfast last November four days after the four-vehicle collision which happened on the Gosford Road.

Patrick Grimley died at the scene while returning from a surprise 40th birthday party in Dundalk and his wife Ciera Grimley succumbed to her injuries a week later.

Kevin, who played for Armagh from 2001 to 2006 and won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal in 2002, opened up about the impact of the tragedy on BBC podcast The GAA Social.

"I have vivid memories of what happened and the aftermath of the whole hospital journey and the weeks after,” he told hosts Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville.

"I was composed in the midst of what was essentially chaos.

"It was a frightening scenario I have to say, but I was able to maintain my composure and hold Ciara until we were cut out by the fire service from the wreckage.”

The medical surgeon – who sustained a broken neck in the crash in addition to multiple fractures in his lower back and a “smashed” kneecap –attributed his ability to stay calm to “part DNA and part medical training”.

McElvanna, who is used to caring for patients and teaches trauma courses, recalled finding it difficult to step aside at the scene of the carnage – but did so immediately when ambulance crews asked him to.

“When we were separated my mind was with Ciara, but I knew she is in good hands,” he said.

"I knew the process, I knew where she was going and what she was having done… all the while I was hoping for a better outcome than probably I knew in my heart of hearts was going to happen.”

The father-of-four said Ciara had suffered a “significant brain” injury which was “ultimately incompatible with life" – she was kept alive by a ventilator while tests were carried out to confirm the extent of the damage.

During this time he was able to keep in contact with his children via video calls, but was eventually allowed to temporarily leave hospital to deliver the heartbreaking news.

"I needed to do that face to face,” Kevin explained, who is used to giving bad news to patients.

"But nothing would prepare you for that scenario – to tell your children that mummy isn’t coming home.

“That was probably the most difficult thing amongst everything.

"It’s difficult to see your children in pain in any scenario whether it’s on the football pitch or whatever.

"But to bring their worlds crashing down amongst them was a very difficult thing to do.”

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Kevin praised the response of his “amazing kids” who range from seven to 14 in age as he described how they rallied around each other and him.

"They put their arms around each other and said ‘we’ll get through this’," he said.

"That’s just what Ciara would have done.”

Kevin said the love and support of his children, members of the wider family and the entire community has helped him cope with the tragedy – he only agreed to do the podcast to pay tribute to his late wife and to thank those who have offered support during “the most difficult time of our lives”.

"I want to acknowledge the help and enormous support we have received from the local community and further afield,” he said.

"As part of the healing process we have leaned quite heavily on a lot of people… from the moment the accident and tragedy happened we were surrounded”.