Pedestrian dies in road accident

A 56-YEAR-OLD Kerryman, who was fatally injured in a road accident while walking near Millstreet, Co Cork, early yesterday morning, was the 39th pedestrian to die on Irish roads this year.

Millstreet gardaí are investigating the accident on the Knocknagree/Rathmore road, about a mile from Knocknagree village.

The victim was named as Mossie Donoghue from Clounts, Rathmore.

He was struck by a jeep at 1.40am and was pronounced dead on arrival at Mallow General Hospital.

The name of the Co Mayo victim, who died at 11am on Friday when his tractor and a car were in collision on the Claremorris/Balla road, has not been released. A local man in his 60s, he died at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. Gardaí have asked witnesses to contact Castlebar station at 094 22222.

Nine people have died on our roads over the past nine days, bringing the total to 227 this year.

However, statistics supplied by the National Safety Council show 23 fewer people have been killed compared with the same period for 2002.

Eleven people were injured in two separate road traffic accidents within an hour of each other in Co Clare on Saturday. Eight people were injured in the first accident, when two cars collided head on at a bend shortly before 5pm on the Kilnaboy/Kilfenora road at Roughan Hill.

One of the cars was carrying a group of French tourists.

Ambulances from Ennis and Ennistymon took the injured to Ennis General Hospital where they were treated for injuries and shock. One person had sustained head injuries but all were later released.

Three people were injured in the second accident in the north of the county when their car overturned on the Fanore road outside Lisdoonvarna at about 6pm. No other vehicle was involved. All three people were treated for minor injuries and discharged from hospital a short time later.

A massive oil spillage, stretching for several miles in north Dublin, forced motorists to make detours yesterday. The affected stretch of the N2 Ashbourne Road was closed for a time while it was made safe. No accidents were reported.