Nine dead after accidents, drownings

Nine accidental deaths were recorded over the bank-holiday weekend in the Republic and two in the North

Nine accidental deaths were recorded over the bank-holiday weekend in the Republic and two in the North. A man in his mid-40s was killed in a road accident near Navan, Co Meath, last night when a car and a tractor collided shortly before 10 o'clock. The crash occurred at Fairlands, about six miles from Navan, on the Ashbourne side. The driver was pronounced dead on arrival at Our Lady's hospital in Navan.

Mr Thomas Keady (32), a married man, was killed when his jeep overturned early yesterday at Craughwell, near Athenry, Co Galway. The accident happened not far from Mr Keady's home at Cappanraheen. In Dublin, a 25-year-old Cavan-born garda fell from Ballymun flats at around 7.30 p.m. on Sunday and was killed instantly. Foul play is not suspected, according to the Gardai.

In Co Kilkenny the body of Mr James O'Sullivan (19), from Model Farm Road, Bishopstown, Co Cork, was recovered from the River Nore on Sunday and taken to St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. He is believed to have fallen into the river at about 5.30 a.m. In Longford on Sunday, Mr Martin Kearney (47) was found dead at the bottom of a stairway in his flat over a shop at Dublin Street. The Gardai believes his death was accidental. In Ballinasloe, Ms Caroline Greene (23) died in Portiuncula Hospital on Saturday night after being brought there from nearby St Brigid's Psychiatric Hospital where she had been found hanging. The Western Health Board said nursing levels were being maintained in line with those agreed between the strike committee and management.

Also on Saturday, Mr Brian Kearns (18) from Cloonlee, Knock, Co Mayo, died after the vehicle in which he was a frontseat passenger struck a bridge at Ballyglass, Claremorris.

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Ms Ciara Fox (19), from Woodlawn Grove, Waterford, died on Sunday when the car in which she was a passenger collided with another vehicle on the main Carlow-Castledermot road at Prumpelstown Cross, just after 4.30 a.m. Her body was removed to Naas Hospital.

On Friday the body of art student Mr Shane Whelan (20), from Sunday's Well Road, Cork, and originally from Cootehill, Co Cavan, was found in the grounds of St Vincent's church, Sunday's Well, where he had fallen from a wall.

Mr Whelan had been missing from his lodgings for a week before his body was discovered in undergrowth at the bottom of an 80 ft drop. Gardai believe he fell while trying to get into his digs.

Gardai at Fitzgibbon Street, Dublin, are seeking witnesses to a fatal accident at the junction of Dorset Street and North Circular Road at 3 a.m. last Thursday in which Mr John Healy, a taxi-driver from Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, was killed.

They are particularly anxious to talk to two men who boarded a taxi at Bachelors' Walk and travelled past the scene of the accident. They were dropped off at Botanic Avenue and at the Royal Oak public house on the Finglas Road.

They are asked to contact Fitzgibbon Street Garda station at 836 3113 or any Garda station.

In the North on Saturday, nine-year-old Ciaran Gerard Doherty from Suffolk Avenue, west Belfast, died after being struck by a car at the junction of Horn Road and Suffolk Road near his home.

In Derry on Saturday, Mr Ryan O'Kane (22) died in a two-car collision at Clooney Road in the Waterside area. He was one of five occupants of a car, all of whom were injured. The driver of the other car is being charged with dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene.