The town of Mullingar is in deep mourning this afternoon as family and friends gathered to pay their final respects to Michaela Newcombe, one of three people who lost their lives in a devastating road crash in Spain.

Michaela died alongside her partner Mark McCullagh, and his sister-in-law Amy McCullagh, all from Mullingar, when the car they were travelling in left the A7 motorway near Malaga and plunged into a ravine in the early hours of June 28.

Amy’s husband, Ian McCullagh, who was driving the vehicle, survived the crash but suffered serious injuries and is still being treated in hospital in Spain.

Mourners packed the Cathedral of Christ the King for Michaela’s Funeral Mass before a private cremation at Lakelands Crematorium in Co Cavan this afternoon.

Michaela was remembered as having a ‘rare [and] radiant gift of lighting up every room she entered.’

Symbols representing Ms Newcombe’s life were presented at the beginning. These included a family photo, a teddy bear, a mobile phone, hair straighteners, her make-up bag, and her favourite coat.

The community is now gathered to remember Mark McCullagh, whose funeral mass is underway at the Cathedral of Christ the King before his burial in Ballyglass Cemetery.

The tragic crash has left the Mullingar community in deep mourning, with tributes continuing to be paid to all three victims.

At her funeral mass earlier today, Father Phil Gaffney spoke of the young couple and how happy they had been. He noted that when Michaela brought Mark back to meet her grandparents, they ‘knew this guy must be something special.’

‘They truly cherished the time they spent together, and he treated her like a princess.’

Mark McCullagh’s funeral and burial are taking place at the moment in Mullingar, while the third victim of the devastating crash, Amy McCullagh, will be laid to rest tomorrow.