Eight people die on roads over St Patrick's weekend

GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has warned motorists to stop their “reckless behaviour”, following the deaths of eight people, including four pedestrians, since the start of St Patrick’s festival weekend.

Two pedestrians were killed in separate incidents overnight on St Patrick’s Day. The most recent fatality was 18-year-old Nicholas Kille from Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, who was killed when he was struck by a lorry on the main street in Bundoran, Co Donegal, at 12.10am yesterday.

A younger brother of Fermanagh intercounty GAA footballer Daniel Kille, he was taken to Sligo General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A 38-year-old pedestrian died when he was hit by a car on the N59 at Ballina, Co Mayo, at 10.30pm on St Patrick’s Day. He was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was removed to Mayo General Hospital.

Gardaí are appealing for information on both incidents.

Speaking at Garda headquarters in Dublin yesterday, Mr Murphy said he was concerned and disappointed by the level of fatalities on the roads over the weekend.

Five more people were killed since Friday than in the same period last year.

The number of people being killed on the roads was “unnecessary and unacceptable” he said.

“The vast majority of road traffic collisions, deaths and injuries are preventable. Therefore, we ask people to take responsibility for their own actions and behaviour.

“We ask them to slow down and take care on our roads.”

Gardaí were working with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to change driver behaviour, but individuals had to consider their own driving, Mr Murphy said.

“It is vital that individuals face up to their responsibilities and stop reckless behaviour which endangers themselves, their passengers and other innocent road users.”

Since last Friday, gardaí dealt with 346 incidents of suspected drink-driving, seven collisions involving serious injury and 72 incidents of dangerous driving. Some 55 people have been killed on the roads since the start of the year, 13 more than in the same period last year. Since the beginning of March, 21 people have died in crashes. Nine people were killed between March 1st and March 19th last year.

Last Monday, a Lithuanian national and a Limerick man were killed in a head-on collision on the main Cork-Limerick road just outside Charleville at about 1am.

Andreius Simanavicius (37), a Lithuanian living at Kilmihil, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was killed instantly, while Michael Maguire (60), Ballyanrahan, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital but died there from his injuries a number of hours later.

On Sunday, Raymond Larkin (28), Carrig, Birr, Co Offaly, was killed when his motorbike collided with a car on the N7 outside Roscrea.

Two people were killed in separate crashes on Saturday. Ellen Laurence (27) was killed when she was struck by a car as she crossed the Dublin Road in Maynooth at about 8pm. At about 10.30am, Shane McKenna (30), Portnick Drive, Creagh, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was killed when the van he was driving struck a ditch on the R357 at Raghrabeg, Shannonbridge, Co Offaly.

Another pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a car last Friday. Jack Ryan (55), Knockderk, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, was hit by a car on Church Road at Coole, Kilteely, Co Limerick, shortly before 8pm. He died at the scene and was removed to Limerick Regional Hospital.