Two men in their 20s were killed in separate single-vehicle road accidents in the first few days of the New Year.
Mr Paul Kilduff (24), from Sallins, Co Kildare, died when his car hit a bridge at Churchtown, Loughnavalley, Co Westmeath. The accident happened at 7.50 a.m. yesterday.
Mr Nicholas Phelan (22), from Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, died on Tuesday evening when the vehicle he was driving collided with a tree. The accident happened at Floodhall, Knocktopher, near Stoneyford Co Kilkenny, at about 7.20 p.m. A Garda spokesman said the general conditions were dry, although the road surface was wet and it was starting to freeze.
A total of 171 people were killed on the North's roads last year, the highest figure since 1991. Mr Sam Foster, the North's Environment Minister, said yesterday it was imperative that attitudes changed.