Horror crash prompts plea from Garda Commissioner
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy today urged motorists to take care on the roads after four young women were killed in a horror crash.
The top officer offered his sympathies to the families of the four NUI Galway university students who died after their car ploughed into a pick-up truck at a notorious accident black spot.
Three of the women died at the scene – on the Galway/Mayo border – while a fourth was taken to hospital, where doctors were unable to save her.
The victims were named locally as Marie Ni Chonghaile, 19, from Ballynahone, Co Galway; Theresa Molloy, 19, Lettermore, Co Galway; Sarah Byrne, 20, Headford, Co Galway and 19-year-old Sorcha Rose McLoughlin from Wexford.
A 21-year-old woman, believed to be the driver of the car, is fighting for her life in hospital.
The Commissioner said: “It is under investigation by the Garda Siochana but my sympathy goes out to the parents and friends of the whole communities where these young people were.
“My abiding message to everybody is to take care on the roads.”
The Commissioner said road deaths were down 40 on the same period last year but much work still needed to be done to save lives.
“These are difficult times and An Garda Siochana are out making every effort to prevent deaths and tragedies like what happened last night, real tragedies, to try and prevent as many as possible.”
The five women were all arts students at NUI Galway, which said it was shocked by the tragic deaths.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of the four NUI Galway students involved in the road traffic accident at Ballindine last evening,” NUI Galway said in a statement.
“The untimely death of our students has shocked the university community and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to all of their families, classmates and friends at this time.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the fifth student involved.”
Staff at NUI Galway said they will work with students as they try to come to terms with the death of the four students.
“The university wishes to express its heartfelt concern for all involved in this tragic accident,” NUI Galway said.
“We will do all we can to support our students during this very difficult time.”
The stretch of road between the villages of Ballindine, Co Mayo, and Milltown in Co Galway remained sealed off as gardai investigated the scene.
The cause of the crash is not yet known although driving conditions in the area had been poor with very heavy rain.
Parish priest Fr Michael Kenny was called to the scene at about 8pm last night, shortly after the collision.
“I went to the N17, halfway between Tuam and Milltown, on a notorious bend in the road,” he said.
“I found two cars crashed – one was a pick-up truck, the other a Renault car which had the bodies of three young girls.
“An horrific sight.”
Fr Kenny remained at the scene for more than four hours administering last rites and supporting emergency crews as they removed the bodies from the wreckage.
“The weather was terrible. There was terrible rain and the road conditions were pathetic,” he said.
Fr Kenny, who offered this morning’s Mass for the young women, said the area was notorious for accidents as the road narrows to a sharp bend on a slight incline.
“It is a very notorious spot. It is renowned for car accidents,” he said.
“It’s on a corner but there’s a drop-off, a slope, as you are coming round and you can lose control.”
Fr Kenny offered his sympathies to the dead women’s families and friends.
A 42-year-old lorry driver injured in the crash was also taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.
It is understood the two vehicles collided head on.
Six people were killed on the country’s roads yesterday in a 12-hour period.
A 58-year-old woman died in a single vehicle crash yesterday morning in Williamstown, Co Galway.
A five-year-old girl also in the car was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A 31-year-old man also died in Longford yesterday after the car he was driving crashed into another vehicle at Agharra at about 2.30pm.
The tragedies bring to 211 the number of people killed on the country’s road so far this year.
