Malaga crash tragedy: 'We clung to hope the terrible news wasn't true,' say salon staff
Three people from Mullingar in Co Westmeath have died in a devastating car crash in Malaga, Spain, prompting an outpouring of grief from their home communities. Michaela Newcombe, her partner Mark McCullagh, and his sister-in-law Amy McCullagh all lost their lives when their vehicle plummeted 100 feet into a ravine off the A7 motorway in the early hours of Sunday morning. Amy's husband Ian, Mark's older brother, remains in critical condition at Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga. The two couples had travelled to the Spanish resort for a holiday late last week.
Havana Sun salon in Mullingar, where Michaela worked as a receptionist, has shared a heartbreaking tribute to their colleague. In an emotional statement, staff described the moment they learned of the tragedy. "It's time to write the words we never wanted to write," the tribute began. "Since yesterday we hoped there had been a mistake. We clung to the hope that the terrible news wasn't true. But today with broken hearts we say goodbye to our beautiful Michaela."
Colleagues remembered Michaela as "the face and the heart of our salon" and "the kindest friendliest soul." They recalled her infectious personality, noting she "was always late but somehow always arriving with the perfect hairstyle and a bag of wedges." The salon staff expressed their devastation at her loss, writing: "You never made a fuss about yourself. You'd be shocked to see how many hearts you've broken by leaving us, how many people miss you and just how many people love you."
The tribute concluded that the salon would never be the same. "Our salon will never be the same and we won't even try to pretend it will be. You loved this place and this place loved you right back. From now on it won't just be our salon. It will always be a place that carries your memory. Forever beautiful Forever young Forever loved. On behalf of your work family On behalf of the clients On behalf of the whole town of Mullingar with deep sadness rest in peace our Michaela."
The salon extended condolences to all affected families during this unimaginable time.