Deborah Sharp Furlong, 48, was on holiday there with her husband and was driving alone on Thursday (April 11) when she was involved in the crash, Furlong confirmed in a statement. 

"It is with a broken heart that I must tell you of the death of my beloved wife Deborah Sharp Furlong as a result of an automobile accident while driving alone while on vacation in the southeast of Ireland on April 11, 2013," he said.

"While our extended families are beyond words over this loss, we would like to thank our friends and well-wishers for their heartfelt concern and condolences as our families face this sudden and painful tragedy.

"While I understand that there may be interest in more details, please understand that at this extremely difficult time, I request privacy for our families.

"Thank you."

The mother of two was Furlong's third wife.

They were married last summer.


According to RTE News, Furlong was driving along a wide stretch of road at Coolishall Upper, outside Gorey, when she collided with a 4×4 on the R772 between Gorey and Clough at about 10:30am.

She was taken by air ambulance to Tallaght Hospital where she was pronounced dead, with Furlong, who is originally from Ireland, by her bedside.

The driver of the second vehicle broke a bone in his foot and was treated for shock and trauma.

Furlong, as associate producer with CBC, was involved with the show Arctic Air. 

She also was a production manager on a several other shows, including The Guard and Cold Squad.

"Deb put her heart and soul into everything she did for the show," Omnifilm Entertainment and Arctic Air Productions said in a joint statement.

Furlong is currently embroiled in a legal fight over a Georgia Straight newspaper story that claimed he was physically and verbally abusive while he was a volunteer teacher in British Columbia in the 1960s and 1970s shortly after emigrating from Ireland.

He is suing reporter Laura Robinson for defamation.

Furlong is now the executive chair of Major League League club Vancouver Whitecaps.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2013: Furlong is not a "racist, a wife-beater and a rapist" insist upset family
January 2013: Furlong faces new allegations after court documents filed
January 2013: Furlong defendants file court papers in libel case
November 2012: Furlong launches legal action over abuse allegations
October 2012: Former Vancouver 2010 chief continues to deny "humiliating and demeaning" abuse allegations