TRIBUTES AS TWO MEN DIE ON ROADS
Three pedestrians killed in 24hrs
TWO men were knocked down and killed in separate road tragedies, bringing to three the number of pedestrians killed in 24 hours.
One of the crashes happened on Thursday when a former schoolteacher in his 70s from Strokestown in Co Roscommon was hit by a car in his local area.
Paul O’gara was also a former president at Strokestown Golf Club which paid tribute to him in a heartfelt Facebook post.
The club’s statement said: “Paul served as president from 1997 to 1999 and was a longserving and valued member of the club.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”
Local councillor Joe Murphy also paid tribute to the road victim.
He said: “He really got on well with students and was a very good maths teacher and you would always want to have him for that.
“He was a very amiable person. You met him on the street.
“He would smile and chat to you and he was always that way.
“He was a happy man, and it’s very tragic and sad to see him taken in such uncertain circumastances. It’s quite a shock to the area.”
The crash happened at around 8pm and Mr O’gara was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman driving the car was not injured.
A Garda spokesman said: “We are appealing for witnesses following the fatal road traffic collision on the N5 involving a car and a pedestrian.
“The N5 is closed at Bridge Street and diversions are in place.” Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Castlerea Garda Station on 094 9621630.
The second incident happened on the R162 in Navan, Co Meath, when a car fatally struck a man in his late 40s just before 10.30pm.
He died instantly and his body was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital where a postmortem is due to be carried out. Gardai are appealing for witnesses in both incidents to come forward with information.
Both incidents come just a day after an elderly woman was fatally struck by a moving vehicle in the Dublin area.
And only this week the Road Safety Authority launched an awareness campaign warning older people face a great risk of being hit by cars.
Paul was a very happy, amiable person. It’s very tragic and a shock JOE MURPHY COUNCILLOR YESTERDAY