Gardaí request crash barrier beside estuary

GARDAÍ have asked Cork County Council to erect a crash barrier alongside an estuary to prevent further tragedies, following an accident earlier this month which claimed the life of a mother and daughter.

Chrissie Twomey and her daughter Kathleen Barrett from Ballincollig drowned after their car was involved in a collision and spun into the River Glashaboy at Glanmire.

The pair had been coming from a wedding in the nearby Vienna Woods Hotel when the accident happened on April 4.

Sergeant Liam Fenney said he sought a meeting last Tuesday with senior council engineers to outline a number of safety measures which were needed in the Glanmire area, with the priority being the erection of a crash barrier or wall alongside the Glashaboy from the village to the Tivoli roundabout.

He said research carried out by fellow sergeant Bill Daly had shown there were 190 traffic accidents in the greater Glanmire area last year and they were determined to reduce that figure significantly.

In the case of the double fatality, Sergeant Fenney said council officials offered to take a serious look at the request and replace a few concrete posts and light wire which acted as an ineffective safety barrier.

Gardaí also want measures to be put in place to prevent a potentially lethal accident happening on Barnavarra Hill which connects Riverstown and Mayfield.

Sergeant Fenney said he asked council engineers to stop heavy vehicles using the steep gradient amid concern their brakes could fail leading to a major accident.

“It’s a very steep incline and not suitable for heavy goods vehicles. It’s extremely dangerous,” Sergeant Fenney said. He added that he had asked council officials to put up signs indicating the road was unsuitable for juggernauts.

The garda shopping list also included reducing speed in the Hazelwood area by asking the county council to widening the footpaths, narrow the road and putting in rumble strips.