Dramatic increase in road deaths over last May

The number of people killed on the Republic's roads has risen dramatically this month. Some 25 people have been killed as of yesterday - five more than for the whole of May last year.

This is the first month that road death figures have exceeded the corresponding month last year, although the number of people killed this year stands at 124 - below last year's total to the end of May of 154. A 48-year-old father of three was killed over the weekend as he was driving near Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, at about 6 p.m. on Friday night. The car in which he was travelling was in collision with a tractor and trailer.

Four others were killed last week. On Sunday, Mr Sean Reilly died when the car in which he was travelling was involved in a two car collision near Belturbet, Co Cavan. On Tuesday, Ms Noelle Maher (18), died after a a two-car accident near Portarlington.

Two other young women, the driver of the car and another passenger, were also injured in the crash.

On Wednesday, Mr Thomas Flaherty from Castlemaine, Co Kerry, was killed in Annascaul when crushed by a steamroller he was operating. On Thursday, Mr Thomas McCann died when a truck he was driving near Mitchelstown overturned. Last night a 21-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were being treated at Limerick Regional Hospital following a car theft in the city on Saturday night.

Both were travelling in a stolen car when it crashed into the Mungret roundabout on the Dock Road.

The monthly road death totals, with last year's corresponding months in brackets are as follows: January 19 (35); February 22 (33); March 33 (34); April 25 (32); May to date 25 (20).

An elderly woman was also killed in a road accident over the weekend. The 86-year-old woman, who has not yet been named, lived near the site of the accident at Ballynamullagh, Carberry, Co Kildare.

She was the driver of a car in collision with a lorry just after mid-day on Saturday. She later died from her injuries in Blanchardstown hospital.