Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Cormac O'Shea

Grim toll sees six deaths in the Republic over the bank holiday weekend

Emergency services in the Republic have pleaded with the public to take care for the remainder of the bank holiday weekend after six deaths in 72 hours.

The majority of incidents have been road related with officers saying "too many families have suffered trauma already this weekend."

Since Thursday, a man's body was found in the Kerry Mountains, a man in his 60's died in a crash in Cork, two motorcyclists died on the M50, a mum-of-two died after her car entered the water in Cork and a male motorcyclist died in a Kilkenny crash.

Read more: Tributes paid to "perfect" Belfast toddler who drowned in Spain tragedy

Speaking this morning Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, with responsibility for Roads Policing and Community Engagement said: "In the last 72 hours my colleagues in An Garda Síochána and in the other Emergency Services across the country have responded to a number of tragic fatal incidents. Too many families have suffered trauma already this weekend."

She added: "No matter what activity you are taking part in this weekend to please take care. Please ensure that you are following all the appropriate safety advice. If you are travelling on our roads I appeal to drivers ‘please slow down’ and ask all road users to take care over the remaining days of this Bank Holiday Weekend."

On Friday evening a woman died and two children were hospitalised after their car entered a waterway.

Horrified bystanders watched as the car reversed into the River Lee at Kennedy Quay in Cork.

They managed to pull the two boys, who had managed to free themselves, to safety.

The children, aged ten and 12, were taken to Cork University Hospital and treated for shock before being released into the care of relatives. Divers recovered the body of the woman from the submerged vehicle after it was lifted by a crane shortly after midnight.

She was named locally as Gillian Daly from Marlborough in the greater Douglas area of the city.

Read more: Two men apologise for involvement in Michaela McAreavey video

Read more: North Belfast food bank issues urgent appeal ahead of school summer holidays

To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.