Gardaí wait to speak to crash survivor

GARDAÍ are waiting to speak to the only survivor of a crash that killed three people in Dublin early yesterday.

Two Cork brothers and an Englishman living in Co Donegal also died in separate crashes, bringing to six the number of road deaths in 24 hours.

Dublin’s North Circular Road was closed for several hours after the crash. Two people died at the scene, while the third was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mater Hospital. The fourth occupant of the car is in a serious but non-life threatening condition in hospital.

The car was on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into a parked lorry near Prussia St on the city’s northside.

Gardaí are calling for witnesses to contact the Bridewell Garda Station on 01-6668200.

The victims, who came from the Midlands, were Thomas Shortall, 42, a father of four, from Shurock, Moate, Co Westmeath; Christy McGowan, 31, from Clara, Co Offaly, and Helen Power, 31, from Tullamore, Co Offaly. Mr McGowan and Ms Power had addresses in Parkgate Place, Dublin.

A National Safety Council spokesman said the six deaths came after a period of improvement in road safety.

Brothers Paul, 21, and David Kirby, 18, from Avoncore Estate, Cork, died in a two-car crash outside Midleton, Co Cork, on Wednesday night. A man in his late 40s who was travelling in the other car was taken to Cork University Hospital where his condition was said to be serious. Earlier on Wednesday, an Englishman in his 60s, who was living in Co Donegal, died when his car caught fire after hitting a tree near Ramelton.

The deaths bring to 114 the number of people killed on roads this year.