Five killed in road crashes over last two days

Five people were killed in road crashes on Monday and yesterday morning, bringing to seven the number killed over the bank holiday weekend.

Two people died at 3am yesterday morning when their car collided with a pedestrian barrier in Dundalk town.

The man and woman, both 20 years of age, were travelling in their BMW at Long Walk when it went out of control. Both were killed instantly.

A man was killed in Co Limerick when the van in which he was a passenger struck a wall at Fedamore Cross shortly before 10.30pm on Monday evening.

The 21-year-old, named locally as Jason Nash of Garryellan, Fedamore, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mid-West Regional Hospital.

The driver was also taken to the same hospital.

His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

A man was questioned about the crash and could be facing drink-driving charges.

A Garda spokesman confirmed that a file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Earlier on Monday Martin O'Connor (22), Dromscarra, Kiskeam, Co Cork, died when he was hit by a car in Co Kerry.

Mr O'Connor was walking at Rathduane on the Rathmore to Millstreet road when the incident happened at about 9.45pm.

He died at the scene. Gardaí at Millstreet station are investigating the incident and have appealed to witnesses to contact them.

Meanwhile, in the North, a man died in a two-vehicle collision at Kesh near Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, on Monday afternoon.

On Saturday, a 38-year-old man, Liam Hogan, Ardsallagh, Co Cork, died when his motorcycle hit a concrete bollard at Dunkettle, Glanmire, Co Cork.

And on Friday a woman in her 70s died shortly before 5pm when her car crashed into a wall at Ballinagh Road, Cavan.

The deaths bring to 140 the number killed on the roads so far this year.

A Garda spokesman said a total of 320 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over the bank holiday weekend.

Fine Gael road safety spokesman Shane McEntee TD said it was disgraceful that nine years after the Government first promised to implement random breath testing and a nationwide network of speed cameras, the legislation has still not been passed.

"The Road Safety Bill, which would allow both measures, is still languishing in the Dáil," he said.

Mr McEntee added that the arrests for drink-driving were a welcome sign of increased Garda vigilance, but were also a tragic indication that the safe driving message was not getting through.