80 drink driving arrests a day in bank holiday clampdown

GARDAÍ arrested an average of 80 motorists a day on suspicion of drink driving during the four-day bank holiday weekend clampdown.

Despite the high-profile road safety campaign, six people were killed in collisions in the Republic while a seventh person died in Co Fermanagh.

Those who died include a man and a woman, both aged 20, who were killed when their car hit a pedestrian barrier in Dundalk in the early hours of yesterday morning.

On Monday night, a 22-year-old man, Martin O’Connor from Dromscarra, Kiskeam, Co Cork, was killed when he was struck by a car while walking at Rathduane on the Rathmore to Millstreet Road at about 9.45pm.

Also on Monday, Jason Nash, 23, from Garryellen, Fedamore, Limerick, died when the van in which he was a passenger crashed close to his home at about 10.30pm.

Liam Hogan, 38, from Ardsallagh, Youghal, Co Cork, died on Saturday when his motorcycle hit a concrete bollard at Dunkettle, Cork.

On Friday afternoon, a woman in her 70s was killed when her car hit a wall at Ballinagh Road, Cavan.

Their deaths bring the total number killed on the roads this year to 140, an increase of 13 on this time last year.

Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said the continuing loss of life was disappointing.

Students bereaved by the Navan school bus crash a year ago launched a campaign yesterday to remind motorists to drive safely.

The girls of St Michael’s Loreto Secondary School are selling keyrings bearing safety messages. All proceeds go to the Louth-Meath Hospital Group. Details are on www.loretonavan.ie/roadsafety.