DNA tests will attempt to identify body of car crash victim

DNA tests are to be carried out to positively identify a body found in a car which burst into flames after crashing into a tree in Co Mayo in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Firemen from Westport and Castlebar fought the blaze which followed the single vehicle impact near Fahy National School on the Castlebar to Newport (R311) road around 1.30 am.

The car was well ablaze by the time fire crews arrived and there was nothing they could do to save the occupant. The vehicle was reduced to a charred shell in the inferno.

There is no indication from gardai as to whether the body recovered was that of a male or female. The remains were taken to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar where a post mortem was being arranged today.

A Garda spokesman in Westport said DNA tests will be required to positively identify the victim.

Mayo chief fire officer, Seamus Murphy described the incident as most unusual and said the car involved had been burnt beyond all recognition.

Gardai at Westport (098-25555) are appealing for witnesses.

The Co Mayo crash was one of several over the weekend bringing to 141 the number of people killed on the Republic’s roads so far this year. The number is one more than the equivalent period last year.

Also yesterday morning a 27-year-old man lost his life when he was struck by a truck while walking along the hard shoulder of the Ennis Road in Limerick at about 6.45 am. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured.

Meanwhile the 22 month-old-boy who died when he was struck by a van while playing in the garden of his home at Crieve Glebe, Letterkenny on Friday evening at around 6.45pm has been named as Joshua Coyle.

Alan Coyle, grandfather of the toddler, said his family understand the pain the man driving the vehicle is going through and want him to come to Joshua's funeral.

He said the driver is a friend of the family and that Joshua and his brothers were excited by his arrival. “They would have been excited as he often brought them sweets. He’s a close member of the family for as long as I can remember. “It was a complete accident and we hold no ill will against this man. He is suffering his own pain too,” he said.

Road Safety Authority communications manager Brian Farrell said the numbers of children killed on the State's roads this year were a source of particular concern. In all of last year seven children lost their lives, while so far this year the numbers have already risen to 13 children under the age of 14.

Mr Farrell said the deaths were particularly disappointing because numbers of fatalities had dropped significantly since the introduction of stiffer penalty points for experienced and novice drivers in August.

Also at the weekend it was confirmed an Irishman had died following a road traffic accident in Australia on Friday. Dermot Holt, who was in his 40s and from Co Kildare, had been living in Australia for a number of years. It's understood Mr Holt had returned home to his native Carbury in Co Kildare earlier this month to attend his mother's funeral.