Victoria bus crash: Our sister enriched our lives, funeral told

Catherine Finnegan died in January after being hit by a bus outside London Victoria station

The sister of a woman killed at Victoria bus station in central London has told her funeral service the 56-year-old "enriched so many of our lives".

Catherine Finnegan, 56, also known as Kathleen, died when she was hit by a double-decker bus on 29 January.

Friends and family gathered in County Galway to hear of Ms Finnegan's "quick Irish wit" and "infectious laugh".

The Metropolitan Police said an investigation into the crash continued.

No-one has been arrested, a spokesman told the BBC.

Ms Finnegan's sister, Teresa, said she had "enriched so many of our lives with energy and her enthusiasm for life".

She told the funeral mass in Tuam that Ms Finnegan had first moved to Harrow when she was 19 years old with friends and then later moved to New Malden where she put down roots.

"She loved the neighbourhood and the neighbourhood absolutely loved her."

'Network of friends'

She said her sister had "established a very special network of friends in London and we are forever grateful for the love and support they gave to Kathleen over the years".

"We have seen how her untimely passing has brought shock and an outpouring of grief, not just from her immediate colleagues but so many associates across London.

"They will always miss her quick Irish wit, her infectious laugh and her ability keep everyone on her toes," she added.

Ms Finnegan's brother, Austin, told the funeral service the tributes paid to his sister, including floral tributes left at the bus station, had been "humbling".

On the day Ms Finnegan was fatally injured, photos on social media showed a red double-decker bus that had crashed into a passenger shelter at Terminus Place at the bus station.

The bus driver, a 46-year-old woman, was taken to hospital but was later sent home, the Met said.

Transport for London's (TfL) chief operating officer Glynn Barton said TfL and bus operator RATP Dev Transit London were both working with police as the investigation continued.

"In the meantime, measures have been taken to ensure the bus station remains safe for everyone," he said.

Damage to the bus shelters had been made safe with temporary barriers installed to deter pedestrians from crossing other than at the designated crossing points, TfL said.

Mr Barton added: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Catherine Finnegan."

Broken glass covered the ground after the bus hit the shelter on 29 January

Since 1 January 2014, there have been more than 80 fatal bus crashes in London, according to City Hall data.

Six of those have been at bus stations, including Euston and Kingston in March 2014, Edmonton Green in 2020 and in Walthamstow in December 2023.

In 2021, Melissa Burr, 32, was killed when she was hit by a bus while using a pedestrian walkway also at Victoria bus station.

Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster Nickie Aiken said the latest fatal collision had prompted her to be "concerned about passenger safety".

TfL has previously set specific targets for safe travel in London. It wants to see no bus-related deaths by 2030.

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]