New mum, 21, dies after van crashed into her by ‘machete-wielding driver’

A young mum has been killed in a hit and run with a van just weeks after giving birth.

Marguerita Sheridan was seriously injured after a van crashed into her at 12.15pm on December 21 in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.

The 21-year-old’s husband, Dennis, has shared heartbreaking pictures of his wife and their son Edward surrounded by toys on Christmas Day.

Danny O’Donoghue, 42, has been arrested and appeared in court charged with causing her death by dangerous driving.

He has also been charged with producing a machete and making threats to a family member.

Friends paid their respects online, commenting: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this. Please Marguerita comfort Dennis and your baby.

‘You should be here with them. Life’s so unfair. You were too good for this big bad world. RIP Maggie.’

Her father, John Sheridan, wrote on social media: ‘I want to say thanks to the gardai, the nurses, the doctors, the priests, the settled people in Rathkeale, the Travelling people and everyone for the messages. 

‘The local shops, hotels for everything and everyone who called to my house and everyone over the world thank you.

‘Rest in peace my beautiful daughter. Marguerita Sheridan, you are a true legend.’

The chief celebrant led tributes from the one thousand mourners who came to her funeral.

He said: ‘She was the heart and soul of her family, full of divilment, full of wonder, and loved – as all the girls here love – to get the hair done and the make-up done.

‘She fell in love when she met Dennis and they were like Romeo and Juliet. They just loved each other – she saw no one else except him,’

‘A month ago yesterday they welcomed baby Edward into their lives and so a month after he was born she was brought to this church.

‘Everyone loved her. She was so well-liked.’

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