Three killed on roads over weekend

THREE PEOPLE were killed on the Republic’s roads over the weekend, two of them in a single vehicle crash in Co Donegal, early yesterday morning.

A third young man was killed in a collision in Tallaght, Dublin, early on Saturday morning.

The two men who were killed in Donegal were named locally as Darren Downey (19), from Moness, Burt, and Gary McLaughlin (21), from Ballymoney, also in Burt.

Gardaí said it appears the men were going towards Letterkenny when the Opel Astra in which they were travelling left the road and crashed through a gatepost, on a slight bend, just south of Newtowncunningham sometime around 7am.

The crashed vehicle was spotted by a passing motorist who raised the alarm around 7.35am and the emergency services were alerted.

The car was found by the side of the road and the two men were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were removed to Letterkenny General Hospital. The road was closed for a number of hours but has since reopened.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone who may have seen the silver Opel Astra on the on the N13 Letterkenny to Derry Road, south south of Newtowncunningham after about 6.30am when they were last seen by friends.

The young men were well known in local sporting circles and a number of fixtures were cancelled yesterday as a result. It is understood they had attended a party in Newtowncunningham on Saturday night.

Local councillor Francis Conaghan said that the community often saw serious incidents on the stretch of road but he said this crash was more difficult as the victims were well-known locals and the community was in shock.

“Our thoughts are with the families at this terrible time.”

Garda Insp David Murphy of Letterkenny Garda station said that initial investigations suggested the car was travelling towards Letterkenny when the latest crash occurred.

“The car left the road on a gradual sweeping bend to the right and appears to have struck a pillar and gone through the gateway of an unoccupied house, ending up in a laneway.”

Gardaí in Tallaght have also appealed for help with their investigation into a fatal collision that occurred at about 3am at De Selby estate, Tallaght. A man in his late 20s died when his motorcycle was involved in a collision. He was taken to Tallaght hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone who may have information or who may have witnessed the crash may contact gardaí on 01-6666000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.