Five people die in traffic accidents

THERE were five people killed in separate traffic accidents in Cork, Offaly, Clare, Kerry and Mayo over the Christmas holiday period.

A 31-year-old woman died when the car in which she was travelling hit a tree in Durrow, Co Offaly, at about 8.40am yesterday. There were no other vehicles involved in the incident and the woman was the only occupant of the car.

A few hours later, Cork man Flor Crowley died when the car in which he and his family were travelling struck a ditch at Oldchapel on the Bandon to Timoleague Road.

The 42-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, but his wife and three children were understood not to have sustained serious injuries.

Following the accident gardaí in Bandon appealed for any witnesses to contact them on 023-8852200.

On Saturday, a married father of six died after the 4x4 in which he was travelling between farms rolled down a hill after losing traction in icy conditions.

It is understood that Patrick Kelly, who was in his 40s and ran three farms in the Lissycasey area of Co Clare, left his home at Coolbawn at around 11.30am and was travelling along a road between two of his farms when the tragedy occurred. It is believed that his vehicle rolled some distance down a hill into a valley. The alarm was raised after Mr Kelly’s family failed to reach him on his mobile phone. Mr Kelly’s wife, brother-in-law and up to 30 locals began to search for him.

At around 5pm Mr Kelly’s vehicle was found at the bottom of a hill.

On Christmas Eve a male pedestrian died after being hit by a lorry in Co Kerry.

The incident happened at 3.40pm in Ardfert village.

The man killed in a single vehicle accident in Louisburgh, Co Mayo on December 23 has been named as Bernard Fuller from Chapel Street in the town.

The 57-year-old died after the car in which he was travelling collided with a ditch. No one else was injured.

Meanwhile, gardaí were forced to enlist the help of Wicklow’s mountain rescue teams on Christmas Day after a couple were left stranded in sub-zero temperatures at the remote Featherbeds area of the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains. In total, Mountain Rescue responded to four calls for help on Christmas Day.