Cycle Against Suicide marshall, 69, dies in crash

Tragedy hit the Cycle Against Suicide yesterday when a motorcycle marshal accompanying the group was killed in a road traffic collision.

The accident at Loughmor, Barnsmore Gap, on the road between Donegal Town and Ballybofey, came 10 days into the nationwide event, and just four days before it is to finish in Dublin.

Jim Breen, founder of Cycle Against Suicide said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with our dear friend and his family at this incredibly difficult time. Our hearts are simply broken.”

The accident occurred at about 11.50am, an hour after the cyclists departed Donegal Town for Strabane.

The motorcyclist, aged 69, was in a collision with a truck and pronounced dead at the scene. He was taken to Letterkenny General hospital where a postmortem was carried out. The truck driver was uninjured.

The man’s name was not released last night until all family members were informed. No cyclists were involved in the accident and they returned to Donegal following the accident.

Organisers had yet to decide last night on the remainder of the event.