Three young people die on roads

A Co Wexford man in his mid- 20s has been charged with drink-driving after a 15-year-old girl was struck by a car and killed early yesterday morning.

Kathy Byrne from Tullow Hill, Tullow, Co Carlow, was hit and fatally injured by a car at Ryland Road, Bunclody, Co Wexford, at 3.15am. She was walking with friends after attending a disco to celebrate her upcoming birthday on Friday.

Tullow parish priest Fr Brendan Byrne said she was a vivacious and outgoing girl. The community was shocked by her death, he added.

The driver of the car was later charged with drink-driving. He is due to appear before Enniscorthy District Court on Wednesday.

There were two other road fatalities yesterday, bringing the number of people killed on the roads so far this year to 310.

A woman was in a critical condition in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital last night after she was struck by an ambulance when she went to the assistance of other road accident victims.

The woman, who has been named locally as Gloria Corrigan (23), had been travelling on the N3 Dundalk to Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, road shortly after 3am yesterday accompanied by two friends when she came across the scene of a car crash.

She left her car in an attempt to help the accident victims when she was hit by an ambulance that was travelling to the scene.

The exact details of the accidents are not yet known but Ms Corrigan was among four people, two men and two women who were taken by the ambulance to our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

A hospital spokeswoman said last night that the other woman and one of the men were in a serious but stable condition, while the second man was in a stable condition.

It was understood that Ms Corrigan had earlier attended a function at Emyvale GAA club, Co Monaghan.

The teenager who was killed in a single-vehicle accident at Drumbarragh, Kells, Co Meath, shortly after 3am yesterday was Colm Cooper (19), Drumbarragh, Kells.

A Polish man in his 20s died and another is in a serious condition in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, after their car struck a wall at Skerries Road, Rush, Co Dublin, shortly before 1am yesterday. No other vehicle was involved.