‘No greater love’ – heroic priest warmly remembered as man of openness and humour

A heroic Cork priest who died after reportedly saving a woman by pushing her out of the way of a bus which lost control has been remembered for “his openness to all people”, with tributes continuing to be paid following his funeral on Saturday.

Fr Con Cronin (72), a Kiltegan missionary and curate in the harbour parishes of Passage West and Monkstown, died when struck by the bus while he was crossing the road.

Bus Éireann driver Mark Wills (51) from Carrigdeane is believed to have suffered a medical trauma which caused him to lose control while driving. He also died in the incident.

The tragedy occurred at 1.35pm Tuesday, August 13. Fr Cronin had just left the nearby Bosun pub after lunch with the local sacristan, a woman in her 60s. They had almost reached the footpath when the collision happened. The sacristan escaped uninjured after the priest reportedly pushed her out of the way. Fr Cronin was pronounced dead a short time later despite efforts by paramedics to revive him.

The bus continued on and collided with several parked cars.

Bishop Fintan Gavin of the Diocese of Cork and Ross expressed the diocese’s “utter shock and sadness of the untimely death of Father Con Cronin RIP”.

“Heartfelt thoughts and prayers go to Father Con’s family,” Bishop Gavin said, continuing, “his wide circle of friends, parishioners and his fellow priests in the Saint Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan, as well as the priests of the Diocese of Cork and Ross”.

Tragic

Speaking also of the bus driver who died, Bishop Gavin said: “This tragic accident also leaves another family mourning the loss of a loved one and I extend my prayerful support to his family also.

“I pray for healing and peace for all who were injured and those who witnessed the accident. I wish to acknowledge the professionalism and kindness of the emergency services who attended the accident scene.”

Mourners were told at the funeral that Fr Cronin aimed to imitate Christ by living his life for others, and that he remained true to this spirit until the end of his life.

“This was brought home very powerfully even at the moment of Con’s death, his last act was to push his friend from the path of the oncoming bus and thus save her life – sadly, he himself was unable to avoid the impact and he and Mark lost their lives,” The Irish Times reported Fr Tomas O’Connor, Fr Cronin’s friend and area administrator for the St Patrick Missionaries, as saying.

Ministered

Fr Cronin was ordained in 1979 and ministered in Africa with the Kiltegan Fathers for 25 years before returning to Ireland in 2004 where, after promoting the missionary work of the Church, he settled into parish life in his native County Cork.

Fr Cronin served in the Harbour parishes since 2012, with Bishop Gavin saying he established “a warm rapport both pastorally and personally with all to whom he ministered and all who had contact with him”.

“He will be remembered fondly for his unique sense of humour and his openness to all people.  He died on the day when the Gospel reminds us what happened the day Jesus asked Peter to step out of the boat and come to him across the water. Jesus called out to him, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid,’” Bishop Gavin said.