By Ursula Duddy
Reporter

A woman killed in a tragic road accident in Derry this week had been due to join her husband today on holiday in Switzerland.
Tributes were yesterday paid to businesswoman, Catherine Harkin, 50, who was struck by a red Mitsubishi Colt at Creggan Road around 5.15pm on Monday.
She was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital but died later of her injuries.
Mrs Harkin had been due to meet up with husband, Paul, today on a skiing trip in Switzerland they had planned with friends.
Speaking to the Derry News yesterday, Brian Harkin, brother-in-law of the deceased, said the news had come as a great shock to his family.
“Paul was actually over in Switzerland and Catherine was to join him on Thursday. Paul and his friend went over and their wives were to follow out on Thursday to join them for the rest of the break.
“He’s just devastated,” said Mr Harkin.
Mrs Harkin’s only son, Gary, 28, lives in Manchester and yesterday had still not been able to get home.
“Gary is over in Manchester at the minute but he’s still stuck over there, he missed the flight yesterday (Tuesday) by five minutes and they wouldn’t let him on but he didn’t tell them about his mother passing away,” said Mr Harkin.
“He booked another flight to come into Belfast but it was cancelled because of the heavy snow in Manchester airport. I just have to find out if he is going to get the ferry home now.”
Mr Harkin said it was still unclear how the accident occurred.
“She had been out for a wee walk that day and was on her way home, we still don’t know exactly how it happened and the driver himself didn’t even know what had happened until he got out.”
Mr Harkin spoke of how his sister-in-law and brother, proprietors of interiors outlet, Inhouse, had worked to build up their business.
“Catherine’s been in business up here from the early 80s and they built it up from a small business to the business they have now on the Buncrana Road,” he said.
“She was a very committed businesswoman and well liked throughout the business community.
“She went to all the shows and met a lot of people through that, she was a bubbly character, very outgoing, and I suppose the business was built up and she had come to a time in her life where she wanted to relax and enjoy herself because she had spent the guts of 18 or 20 years building it up.”
Mrs Harkin, originally from Wexford, had settled in Derry with her family.
“She really loved the town and she made it her home,” said Mr Harkin.
“She’ll be badly missed; anybody that met her took to her and reciprocated her friendliness and kindness.
“She has a lot of friends here and we’re from a big family. There’s 10 in our family and there’s 10 in her family too.”
Mr Harkin said the family are glad to have had a good Christmas full of precious memories before tragedy struck.
“We had a lot of good nights and parties with the family and friends over Christmas,” said Mr Harkin.
“I’m glad for that time; it eases the pain a bit.”
Mrs Harkin will be buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Moville on Saturday following requiem mass at St Eugene’s Cathedral at 10am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, police yesterday renewed their appeal for information in connection with this week’s accident.
They believe the female driver of a car travelling towards the Rosemount roundabout may have stopped at the scene and rendered first aid to the victim.
Police officers are keen to speak this woman and anyone else who was in the area on Monday evening. The telephone number to ring is 0845 600 8000.