The safety of Irish rallying is to be reviewed following the death of two marshals during the Donegal International Rally on Friday.
The governing body of Irish motor racing, the Motorsport Commission, is to inspect safety at all future events after a car left the road during the rally and crashed into spectators. Marshals Mr George Clarke and Mr Gerard McKenna, both 22, were killed and three other men were injured, one seriously.
At a meeting today the commission decided that safety procedures had been correctly followed during the Donegal meeting and that "what happened, whilst devastating in its consequences, was an accident".
A committee is to investigate the crash as part of an overall review into rally safety, which will be completed by September.
Mr Clarke, from Moville in Co Donegal, and Mr McKenna, from Crossmaglen in Co Armagh, died at the scene. A third man remains in intensive care in Letterkenny General Hospital today, where his condition is described as stable.
Two other men were treated in hospital for injuries following the crash, which happened in slippery conditions on stage two at Cloghan, six miles from Ballybofey.
The Shell-sponsored race, which attracts thousands of spectators, was stopped and the remaining stages cancelled.
The Motorsport Commission said in a statement today: "Having carefully considered all of the information available at this point in time, the commission is satisfied that the agreed safety plan for the event was carried out in the correct manner."
But the statement went on: "In the light of Friday's tragedy the commission has taken a decision to review the current safety plans for all upcoming events.
"Safety of spectators and competitors is of paramount importance in motorsport. To that end Motorsport Ireland has a safety review committee which is currently looking at all aspects of safety in rallying.
"They have been directed to examine the circumstances of Friday's accident in their review which is due to be completed in September this year."
The commission pledged to co-operate with a Garda investigation which was immediately launched after the accident. The rally car, which witnesses said used the humpback bridge as a "high jump" before hitting the crowd, has been taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for examination.
A spokeswoman said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions if officers thought an offence had been committed.
PA