Pedestrian deaths rise to 54 as two killed at weekend

THE number of pedestrians killed in road traffic accidents this year rose to 54 after separate weekend tragedies.

Dubliner Paul O’Neill, 71, from Milltown Road, died on Friday night after being knocked down on Bachelors Walk. Gardaí in Store Street, 01 6668000, are seeking to talk to people near Capel Street Bridge and the Millennium Bridge, Ormond Quay and Bachelors Walk between 7.45pm and 8.15pm.

In Donegal, Patrick Cullen, 63, from Devlinreagh, Carrigart, died on Saturday from fatal injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle at Rosapenna, Downings at 1.25am.

Meanwhile, the road death toll for 2003 reached 258 this weekend.

Brian Hegarty, 23, from Burnfoot, Co Donegal, died after a two-car collision in the early hours of Saturday.

The accident occurred at Lisfannon, Buncrana, Co Donegal, at 2.40am. Mr Hegarty was taken with serious injuries to Altnagelvin hospital in Derry where he died. Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Dublin’s Fitzgibbon Street are appealing for witnesses to a serious traffic accident on Friday night, when a young boy was knocked down and seriously injured around 9.30pm at the junction of the Five Lamps on the North Strand Road.