Second motorist dies on same stretch of road

A second motorist has been killed in just five days on the same stretch of road in Co Tipperary, bringing the number of deaths on the roads to seven in less than a week.

John Clifford (29), from Ballina Killaloe, Co Clare, died after midnight yesterday at Ballinteenoe on the N7 near Carrigatogher. However, the accident was not discovered until late yesterday morning.

Mr Clifford's vehicle, a four-wheel drive, left the road and hit a crash barrier, before falling more than 10ft into a field. No other vehicle was involved.

Gardaí said the vehicle was not visible to cars on the main road. However, a passing lorry driver discovered it shortly after 11.20am.

The crash happened less than four miles down the N7 from where a motorist was killed on Friday.

Michael Hasset (81), from Coosane, Birdhill, Co Tipperary, died following a three-car collision at Thornhill near Birdhill at around 6.30pm.

A third man was killed on Tipperary roads earlier on Friday. He was Joseph Connors, from Lacey Avenue, Templemore. Mr Connors, a pedestrian in his 60s, was killed when he was hit by a lorry on the Roscrea Road in Templemore.

Seven people have died on the roads since the beginning of the bank holiday weekend, bringing the number of road fatalities to date to 126, one more than in the same period last year.

Dermot Sheehan (33), from Camolin, near Gorey, Co Wexford, died on Monday when his car hit a ditch at Camolin at 10.20pm.

A 27-year-old man was killed earlier the same day when his motorcycle collided with a car two miles north of Listowel. A woman in her 70s died a short time later in a two-car crash at Flemington, Co Meath.

On Saturday morning, Dean Gilsenan (17), from Kilmainhamwood, Co Meath, was killed when his car crashed near Moynalty.