Four people have died following road crashes in counties Donegal, Meath and Dublin on Wednesday.
They include an elderly brother and sister who died in a two-car collision in Co Donegal.
PJ McGettigan and his sister Una, both in their 70s, died following the incident in the village of Kilmacrennan late on Wednesday evening. A woman in her 40s, the driver of the second car, was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for serious injuries.
The crash, which occurred at 11.50pm, took place on a sweeping bend on the N56 as motorists leave the village in the direction of Termon.
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Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene and taken to the mortuary at Letterkenny University Hospital. Local coroner Dr Denis McCauley was notified immediately and arrangements were made for postmortem examinations.
The remains of the two cars involved in the crash have now been taken from the scene.
Head of the Donegal Garda Traffic Corps, Inspector Seamus McGonigle, appealed to anybody who may have been in the area to contact them.
“This is a busy road and the main road artery into West Donegal,” he said. “We would appeal to anybody who was in the area at the time and who may have witnessed the incident or may have dashcam footage to get in touch.”
The deaths bring to eight the number of people who have been killed on Donegal roads so far this year. A total of 10 people died on Donegal roads in the whole of 2023.
Separately, gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a fatal crash near Enfield in Co Meath on Wednesday,
A woman aged in her 80s died from injuries sustained in the two car collision on the R148 at about 2pm. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
An examination of the scene by a Garda forensic team has been completed and the road has since reopened.
Meanwhile, a man has died after his motorcycle crashed in Finglas, Dublin, on Wednesday afternoon. Gardaí said they were alerted to the incident on the Old North Road shortly after 2pm.
“The motorcyclist, a man aged in his 20s, was fatally injured,” the force said in a statement.
Arrangements are to be made for a postmortem, and the road has reopened in fully following the completion of a technical examination, the spokesman said.
Anyone with information about any of the crashes is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
A total of 109 people have died on the State’s roads so far this year, an increase of 17 (18 per cent) on the same period last year.
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