THREE PEOPLE including the mayor of Ballyshannon were killed in a crash in Co Donegal yesterday morning.
Father of six and mayor of Ballyshannon PJ Branley (58) who was driving a van, was killed, as was his 40-year-old passenger Dessie McNulty from Ballintra, and the driver of a car, 17-year-old Michael O'Sullivan, from Ballyshannon.
The two vehicles collided on a wide stretch of road at Ballymagrorty on the main road between Ballyshannon and Donegal town at around 10am. It's understood the road was wet at the time.
Gardaí said initial inquiries indicated a white car driven northwards by Mr O'Sullivan went out of control on a slight bend and collided with Mr Branley's van, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Mr O'Sullivan and Mr McNulty died at the scene. Mr Branley, a Sinn Féin politician who was elected to Ballyshannon Town Council in 2004, died later at Sligo General Hospital.
The road was closed to traffic for several hours following the incident as Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene. Traffic heading in either direction was re-routed along a coast road via Rossnowlagh.
Mr Branley, a Fermanagh-born construction worker and popular community activist, has been Sinn Féin chairman of Ballyshannon Town Council since June.
Fr Cathal Ó Fearraí, parish priest of Kilbarron parish in Ballyshannon, was called to the scene.
He said the parish couldn't take in the triple fatality. "They can't believe it. They are in severe shock today," he said.
He added that there had been at least 10 deaths on the road from Donegal to Ballyshannon over the past decade, including one just over a week ago. "It's a good road, a wide road. Maybe it's too good," he said.
Seán Óg Kane, Fianna Fáil vice-chairman of Ballyshannon Town Council, said: "The entire community is stunned. PJ was a great friend. He never let party politics get in the way of his dedication to Ballyshannon and the interests of the town."
Only a week earlier Mr Branley drove his friend, 73-year-old Anthony O'Malley-Daly to Clonbullogue in Co Offaly when the pensioner, a Parkinson's Disease sufferer, became the oldest person in Ireland to make a solo parachute jump.
Mr McNulty, a single man, lived in nearby Laghey, and was said by neighbours to be dedicated to his elderly mother. He worked as a carpenter and painter.
Mr O'Sullivan moved with his family from the UK to Ballyshannon seven years ago.
Ballyshannon Town Council held a special meeting last evening to express the "great sadness" of members at Mr Branley's death.
In a statement after the meeting, the council expressed sympathy with Mr Branley's wife Mary, his sons John, Patrick, Liam and Ciarán, his daughters Rosaleen and Sharon, his extended family and grandchildren. The council also extended sympathy to the families of the other two crash victims.
Councillors said Mr Branley had hoped to implement a number of plans during his term. They vowed to carry out as many of these projects as possible in his memory.
Some 247 people have been killed on Irish roads so far this year. This is more than 30 down on the same period last year.
Gardaí are appealing for information about the crash.