Counties’ road deaths nearly twice last year’s

THE number of people killed on roads in Cork, Kerry and Limerick this year is nearly double that for the comparative period for 2005.

A total of 23 people have lost their lives in 19 accidents since January 1. In the same period last year, 12 people died in 12 different accidents.

Inspector Billy Duane, who is in charge of the garda regional traffic corps, described the figures as a real tragedy and yesterday said a series of inter-agency checkpoints will be launched in the coming weeks in an attempt to cut down on the carnage.