Young men killed in crash had lives ‘cut very short’
TWO young men had their ‘lives cut very short’ after they were killed in a horrific car crash on Tuesday evening.
Darragh Dullea, 20, from Clonakilty in Cork and Cillian Kirwan, 19, from Kilkenny, died after the car they were travelling in crashed into a wall on the N69 outside Askeaton, Limerick.
The duo, who were both passengers in the vehicle, were students at Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry.
Two other people who were in the car at the time are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Speaking following the tragedy, college principal Derek O’Donoghue said: ‘Staff and students are numb this morning following the tragic accident.
‘All occupants were not alone students here in Salesian Agricultural College, on the Technological University of the Shannon Higher Cert in Agricultural Mechanisation course, but were also residential which is an even tighter student body.
‘TUS student counselling support services are currently here in the college meeting students and staff.’
Mr O’Donoghue added that the two men were in the ‘final stretch of their two-year course’.
‘They had great career prospects ahead of them, a great life ahead of them and unfortunately it was cut very short last night.
‘I would like to send my condolences to the families of the two students who have tragically lost their lives, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and their friends and classmates. And I also wish the two students who are in hospital a speedy recovery,’ he said.
A total of 32 people have now died on Irish roads since the start of the year.
There were 31 deaths on the roads for the whole of January and February last year. In the course of 2023 there were 184 fatalities after collisions, a 19% increase on 2022, marking a nine-year high.
Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey extended his sympathies to the families of the deceased in the this latest accident and also praised the efforts of the emergency services. He told the Mail: ‘I would extend my sympathies to the families involved in this terrible crash. This has a widespread, devastating impact on everyone in the community. Also, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the emergency services for what they did when they came upon the scene.
‘The two young men who have passed away were in their final year at Salesian’s Agricultural College. They were two fine young men who are now gone. It’s just heartbreaking for the area.’
In a separate incident, a 33-yearold man has died after he and a young child were knocked down in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
That incident happened on Lord Edward Street in the town on Tuesday evening at around 6.25pm.
The man who had been in critical condition in Mayo General Hospital was pronounced dead last night. The young girl is said to
‘Heartbreaking for the area’
have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station 096 20560 or any Garda Station.
Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers said the deaths of the two young men in Limerick are ‘absolutely devastating’.
He said: ‘I just want to express my condolences to the Salesian Agricultural College and the wider community in Limerick. I know how much grief this will bring to everyone involved and to their families.
‘They had so much ahead of them in their own lives,’ he told RTÉ’s News At One.
Mr Chambers added that the trend of high numbers of road deaths is persisting across the country.
‘In particular the number of young people we are seeing losing their lives on the road. My condolences to everyone involved in the events of the last 24 hours,’ he said.
‘We are taking a very evidencebased approach in trying to address the worrying trends, that is why last week I brought through the road traffic legislation which went through the second stage of the Dáil.
‘That road traffic legislation is due to go before the Oireachtas Transport Committee next week and we hope to progress that through quickly so we can underpin reforms that will make a difference, which very much focused on lifesaver offences.’
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed either accident to contact them.
‘Any road users who may have camera footage – including dash-cam – are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.
‘Anyone with any information is asked to contact Askeaton Garda Station, 061 601630, or any Garda station,’ a spokesman said.
High numbers of deaths persisting