Two brothers among five killed in weekend road crashes

The death toll on Ireland's roads this year has already exceeded the total for 2004 following the deaths of five people in accidents across the country yesterday.

Three people died in the worst of the crashes, which happened when a car hit a wall on the main road between Athy and Carlow town at around 6pm.

The victims are all believed to be in their early 20s and are also believed to include two brothers.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened in the Maganey area.

Elsewhere yesterday, a 70-year-old man died after being knocked down by a car in Blackrock, Co Dublin, while a 66-year-old man died after crashing his car near Dundalk, Co Louth.

The deaths brought the total number killed on the roads this year to 377, compared to 374 for the whole of 2004.