Fifth man dies from Monaghan crash injuries

A fifth man has died following the horrific road crash that also claimed four other young lives in Co Monaghan over the weekend.

Twenty-seven-year-old father-of-one John McQuillan died in hospital last night from injuries he sustained when two cars collided head-on in Threemilehouse in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Three of the other victims were buried during an emotional day in the village yesterday, while the fourth is due to be laid to rest later today.

The fatalities are prompting fresh calls for measures to reduce the death toll among young male motorists.

The Road Safety Authority says a quarter of the 305 road victims this year have been young men aged between 17 and 25.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has indicated his support for tough new measures proposed by the authority, including disqualification for provisional licence holders who clock up six penalty points.

He is coming under pressure today to set a deadline for introducing such laws.