Two men killed after three-car crash

TWO men died and another three people were seriously injured in a three-car smash near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

The horrific crash happened at about 6.45pm on the N2, two miles outside Carrickmacross on the Ardee side.

The three cars were carrying eight people, including two children.

Gardaí said the children were sent to hospital as a precaution and another person has less serious injuries.

The scene of the crash was being investigated last night and the road was closed with diversions in place.

The roads are understood to have been slightly flooded due to the thaw from the recent spell of sub-zero temperatures but it is not yet known if the conditions contributed to the crash.

Meanwhile, gardaí have named the man who died after a fatal road crash in Co Wicklow on Christmas Day.

He was Patrick Murphy, 41, from Greenview Apartment, The Brook, Arklow.

Mr Murphy was struck by a van as he walked on the southbound lane of the N11 dual-carriageway at Coynes Cross, near Ashford, at 1.20am.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his remains were taken to Loughlinstown Hospital for a postmortem.

A 21-year-old man was arrested after he subsequently contacted gardaí about the incident and he was taken to Gorey Garda Station, but was later released.

Gardaí are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they witnessed the crash or they saw either the man or the van on the road leading up to the accident.