FIVE PEOPLE have been killed in four road incidents over the weekend. Three of the fatalities were in Co Donegal.
On Saturday morning, a father and son were killed in a two-car collision on the main Letterkenny to Derry road. The incident happened at 10.10am at Slab Road, near Burt Chapel.
John Gallagher (55) and his son Seán (24), Ramelton, Co Donegal, were on their way home from having left family to Derry City airport.
They are survived by Mr Gallagher’s wife, Hilary, and daughters Aoife, Aisling and Ailish.
The driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle, a woman (59), was not critically injured but was taken to Letterkenny Hospital and admitted overnight. Her condition was described as stable.
Investigating gardaí have appealed for witnesses.
In another incident in Co Donegal, gardaí are investigating the death of a 60-year-old pedestrian on Friday evening.
The man was hit by a car at Carraig Airt at about 7.40pm. The man, who was single, died en route to hospital. The occupants of the car were uninjured.
He was reported locally as having returned home from England and Scotland about 18 months ago, where he had lived for a number of decades.
His funeral takes place today at Stella Maris Church, Downings.
In Co Laois on Saturday, a 26- year-old man died following a single-vehicle collision on the southbound lane of the M7, immediately after the Killenard/ Mountmellick exit, about 15 miles north of Portlaoise. The incident happened at about 8.20 am.
The driver, who was the only occupant of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Portlaoise hospital. The road has been closed for a forensic examination and diversions are in place.
Early yesterday, a man (37) died after his tractor crashed in Co Down. The incident happened on the Banbridge Road in Dromara.
In response to hazardous driving conditions, the Fine Gael spokesman on road safety, Shane McEntee, has called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to make emergency funding available to repair roads damaged by recent freezing conditions.
“These tragic deaths are a grim reminder of the dangers that face all drivers. The hazards are even greater following the deep freeze, with countless regional and local roads in an appalling condition. This is a major road safety issue.”
Mr McEntee said many local authorities had insufficient funding to repair damage.
“Yet road safety is a vital component of road improvement programmes. The winter freeze has left scores of roads with massive potholes or disintegrating. Poor road conditions and markings contribute to 30 per cent of deaths on the road, the second largest contributor to fatalities . . .
“Reports suggest Minister Dempsey is considering increasing funding to local authorities in forthcoming allocations. It is vital that the Minister listens to the local authorities when they present their case and allocates sufficient funding to address the desperate road conditions.”
