Two men killed as their cars collide near Ballina

Two male motorists driving alone became the first road crash victims of 2014 yesterday when their cars collided on a new stretch of the N26 near Ballina, Co Mayo. The men were named locally as Gearóid Ó Scolaí (47), a hackney cab operator who lived at Childers Heights, Ballina, and Terence Beagan (43), Proleek, Ravensdale, Co Louth.

The cars were travelling in opposite directions along the N26 at Ballinahaglish, Ballina, when the collision occurred about a mile from Ballina at about 4.50am.

It is understood that Mr Ó Scolaí, the owner of Celtic Cabs, Ballina, had dropped off a fare in the Knockmore area and was returning to Ballina when the crash occurred. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.Mr Ó Scolaí, who had come from Dublin to live in Ballina some years ago, was "well known and well liked", according to Ballina Town Council's Terry Nolan. Gardaí at Ballina are appealing for witnesses.

Meanwhile, a man (22) is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after he sustained a serious head injury in a road crash in Co Tipperary.