A Mullingar-based soldier who served two tours of duty abroad with the United Nations and was engaged to be married, was killed in a two-car collision on Saturday June 25 at the N52 junction outside of Belvedere House.
Gunner Nigel Costello (29 ) from Tullamore was believed to be returning home along the golf club road (old N52 ), when the crash happened as he negotiated the turn onto the new bypass.
Passing motorists attended to the lone occupants of the two cars until the emergency services arrived shortly after, but Gnr Costello was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the second car was taken to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar where their condition is described as serious. No one else was involved in the crash.
Gnr Costello was almost 10 years with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Columb Barracks, and served under the blue beret in Kosovo (2006 ) and Chad in 2009. He was buried in Tullamore on Wednesday, and is survived by his parents, fiancée, and two siblings.
