Two killed in weekend road tragedies

TWO road deaths over the holiday weekend brings to 233 the number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year.

Wendy Lynch, 33, a mother of one from Fairbank Way, Downpatrick, Co Down died following a collision with a van in Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Saturday at around 2.15am.

A passenger in the car was slightly injured and was taken to Mullingar Hospital for treatment.

A pedestrian died when he was struck by a car on John F Kennedy Parade in Sligo at around 2.30am yesterday. He was 27-year-old Mark Rooney from St Joseph’s Terrace, Sligo.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Meanwhile, gardaí are satisfied there was no foul play involved in an incident where a man fell to his death from the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare on Saturday.

The man was seen falling from the cliffs at around 5.20pm. Gardaí and local rescue servicesand helicopter were alerted immediately. The man’s body was found shortly after 7pm and taken to Limerick Regional Hospital.

A garda spokesperson said motorists should expect the roads to be busier over the holiday weekend and not resort to speeding to make up for lost time in traffic.

The garda urged drivers to be patient and to give themselves the appropriate amount of time for a journey. “It’s better to be late than not to arrive at all,” he said.

He also warned parents of young children to make sure they were well strapped in and to take breaks from driving on long journeys.

“Children are easily bored and need to be kept entertained so they don’t end up being a distraction,” he warned.

He urged motorists generally to slow down and observe the speed limits, especially in wet conditions when the breaking distance can double.