Three women die after horrific car crash near Ardee
RENEWED efforts are taking place to highlight the dangers on the section of the N2 between Ardee and Carrick that saw three people lose their lives in the early hours of Friday morning.
Margaret McGonagle (69), her daughter Mairead Mundy (39) and her friend, Rachel Battles (37), all from Bruckless, near Killybegs, died when their car was involved in a three vehicle collision south of Aclint Bridge at approximately 1 a.m.
They had been returning from Dublin Airport following a holiday in Turkey. Mrs Battles son, aged six, was also injured as was a 31-year-old man.
An ambulance came upon the accident as well as an off duty garda and they all helped at the scene.
The road was wet at the time and Supt Fergus Treanor made an appeal for those who witnessed the tragic accident to make contact.
That stretch of the N2 has been the subject of an ongoing campaign for safety measures.
Locals want turning lanes painted on the road to allow them exit after a number of accidents.
Only at the recent area council meeting in Ardee, Cllr Dolores Minogue accepted a petition for safety measures, names gathered by local man Trevor Kerley.
‘I have requested a joint inspection with Louth CC, gardai and the TII to see what we can do to improve this stretch of road,’ the councillor stated. She has been working on the matter with new Transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd TD.
‘ This road has been highlighted and Friday was so tragic for those families concerned. We can only express our sympathy to them at this terribly difficult time.’
The N2 was closed between Ardee and Aclint Bridge for some time to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact Ardee Garda Station 041 6871130, The Garda Confidential Line 1 800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Fianna Fáil TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach expresses his condolences to the families of the three women killed.
“This was very sad news to wake up to on Friday morning. The crash happened in the early hours of the morning and we don’t know the full circumstances of what happened yet. The road was wet at the time of the accident, however, this is a road that has been highlighted as dangerous as it has claimed a number of lives over the past number of years. While it is a good wide road with many straight stretches, it needs to be a dual carriageway.”