Children hurt in rally accident

MOTORSPORT Ireland have launched a major investigation into the circumstances that led to a safety car at last weekend’s Circuit of Kerry Rally crashing and injuring two young children.

The accident occurred at Cloghers in Ballymacelligott at 11.49 am just before the start of stage 2 of the rally.

As an official safety car carried out a final inspection of the course before racing began it spun out of control and struck a barrier which then collided with a number of spectators.

Two children, a brother and sister aged two and seven, who were watching the rally with their family, were injured in the crash.

The seven-year-old girl suffered serious injuries to her leg and back and she was transferred to Cork University Hospital by the Shannon Rescue Helicopter for treatment.

She remains in the hospital where she is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

Her two year old brother is being treated at Kerry General Hospital where he was taken immediately after the accident.

Following the accident the rally stage was cancelled.

The Kerry Motor Club who organised the rally have launched and investigation into the accident and expressed their sympathies and best wishes to the injured children and their family.

Gardaí are also investigating and on Monday Motorsport Ireland Irish rallying’s governing body, announced a major investigation into the cause of the crash.

Motorsport Ireland Chief Executive Alex Sinclair said the body is taking the investigation extremely seriously.

Mr Sinclair said the accident was unprecedented and that an official car has never before been in a crash involving spectators.

Investigators from Motorsport Ireland will visit the scene and speak to rally organisers and witnesses in the coming days.