Boy, 10, knocked down by two cars

A 10-year-old boy is tonight critically ill in hospital after he was knocked down by two cars while walking in Lurgan - the seventh person killed or seriously injured this weekend.

Since Friday, four people have died and three young children have been left fighting for their lives after road collisions.

The latest accident happened at 1.30pm today on Lough Road in Lurgan and one man has been arrested. Two cars were involved.

David Heaslip, 18, from Ballymiscaw Road, Holywood, died this morning after he suffered serious injuries in a two-car collision on the Belmont Road, Belfast, shortly after 8pm on Friday.

Sisters aged four and five are battling for life in hospital after the car they were in hit a tree in a separate incident on Friday morning. Their father, James McGuigan, 30, and eight-year-old sister Lorna were killed in the crash after Mr McGuigan lost control of his car on the Ballyhill Road, Crumlin.

Yesterday a pedestrian, Matthew Dagens, 15, died when he was struck by a car on the Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick, at around 9.30am on Friday.

The North's roads death toll stands at 124 this year.

The McGuigan's family priest, Fr Aidan Troy, said Mr McGuigan had been taking his children to their grandmother's house and added that he had been to a nativity play at the local Ardoyne Holy Cross Primary School earlier in the week.

He said Lorna's organs were to be donated and told of the heartache of the grieving family.

Naomi Long, Alliance Party Assembly member, said the deaths were a terrible blow at Christmas time.

"I would like to extend my condolences to the family at this time," she said.

"Obviously the loss of such a young life in this way would be tragic at any time, but it is particularly poignant coming up to this holiday period. This has been a truly horrific period for road deaths."

Superintendent Bill Brown, head of PSNI Roads Policing Development Branch, called on road users to help prevent further deaths this Christmas.

"This weekend we have seen deaths on our roads which will bring heartache to a number of families in Northern Ireland. The Police Service appeals for the support of all road users to bring such carnage to an end," he said.

"Once again we are appealing to motorists to abide by the rules of the road, heed speed limits, wear seat belts, don't drink and drive, and drive with due care and consideration for other road users.

"If you do not, you must face up to the fact that you could easily kill or seriously injure yourself and other road users. We will work continuously with the public and our partners to make the roads safer.

"The Police Service remains committed to tackling the issue of road safety through both education and robust enforcement. We will also take robust action against those who ignore these warnings and put others at risk - we make no apology for that."

He said motorists should slow down, adapt to difficult driving conditions and take extra care.