Staff at the Havana Sun salon in Mullingar have shared a heartbreaking tribute to Michaela Newcombe, a receptionist who died alongside her partner Mark McCullagh and his sister-in-law Amy McCullagh in a devastating car crash in Spain. The accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when their car plunged 100 feet into a ravine off the A7 motorway near Malaga. Amy's husband Ian, Mark's older brother, remains in a critical condition at Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga.
Salon's Emotional Tribute
The salon's tribute began: "It's time to write the words we never wanted to write. 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." Describing her as "the face and the heart of our salon," colleagues said she was the first person to make everyone feel welcome, remembering her as "the kindest, friendliest soul." They recalled her infectious personality, writing that she was "always late, but somehow always arriving with the perfect hairstyle and a bag of wedges."
Community Grief
The tribute added: "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." Staff said 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. It will always hold your laughter, your kindness, and your spirit." The tribute concluded: "Forever beautiful. Forever young. Forever loved. Rest in peace our Michaela."
The salon also extended condolences to the families of all three victims, saying: "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Michaela, Mark and Amy. Our hearts are with you during this unimaginable time."
Local Reaction
The deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief in Mullingar, County Westmeath. Fr Norman Allread, a priest in the parish, said: "It's on everybody's lips. Father, do you know what happened? Do you know what's going on? Information has opened out and now we know who we are praying for and why." He added: "The hospital called me to lead a prayer service because Amy's family are closely connected. It's in everybody's heart and we are holding Ian very close because his recovery will be difficult and probably long."
