Six people die on roads in period of 18 hours

SIX PEOPLE were killed on the Republic’s roads in an 18-hour period from the early hours of Sunday morning last.

The latest deaths, which occurred early yesterday, included those of two young men in Dublin who died when the car in which they were travelling hit a tree.A 21-year-old man who was a passenger in the vehicle was killed when the collision occurred on Hartstown Road in north county Dublin.

The 24-year-old driver of the car was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, where he later died of his injuries.

Neither of the men’s names has been released by gardaí pending notification of the deaths to family members.

Witnesses are asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda station on 01-6667000; the Garda confidential line, 1800-666-111; or any Garda station.

The other deaths included those of a young girl and her baby sister who were killed in Tuam, Co Galway, on Sunday afternoon; a man in Cork who was killed when his motorbike was in collision with a car; and a man in Cavan who lost his life when his tractor overturned.

Shortly before 2pm on Sunday, a two-year-old girl and her 12-week-old sister, Kate and Grace Gilmore, were killed when they were hit by a car on the outskirts of Tuam. The children, who were in a buggy, and their father, John Gilmore, were walking along the hard shoulder of the N17 when the incident occurred a short distance from their home.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, in Galway for a number of functions yesterday, said the horrific accident which claimed the lives of the young sisters was the “worst nightmare” of every parent. She extended her sympathy to their parents John and Michelle Gilmore adding the tragedy was “beyond words”.

The girls’ funeral Mass will be held in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Belclare at noon tomorrow followed by burial in nearby Killower cemetery.

A book of condolence will be open today at Tuam Town Council offices.

Also on Sunday in Co Cork a man in his 30s lost his life when his motorcycle was in collision with a car near Dripsey, 20km west of Cork city. The crash took place near Inniscarra dam shortly after 2pm.

The road where the crash occurred was closed yesterday afternoon pending the arrival of crash scene investigators. Witnesses have been asked to contact gardaí in the county.

The name of the deceased was being withheld by gardaí yesterday pending notification of his family members.

Shortly before 8pm on Sunday a man named locally as Stanley Moore of Ashley Close, Cootehill, was killed after the tractor he had been driving overturned. The incident happened on the road between Cootehill and Mountain Lodge. Witnesses are asked to contact Bailieborough Garda station on 042-9694570.

Meanwhile, a mother and her two young sons had a lucky escape yesterday when the car in which they were travelling left the road and hit a tree before turning over on to its roof. The single-vehicle crash happened at 4.15pm at Ballyline, about 10km from Ennis, on the old Ennis to Galway N18 road. The mother and her two sons, aged three and four, escaped without serious injury.