Biker tragedy brings road death toll to 145
A MOTORCYCLIST has become the 145th casualty on the country’s roads this year.
George McDonagh, 57, was killed in a collision involving a car and his bike. Gardaí and emergency services rushed to attend the scene on the N55 at Lissoy, Co. Westmeath, shortly before 6pm on Monday, but were unable to save him.
The body was removed to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, where a post-mortem is due to take place. The driver of the car was treated for shock.
Local diversions were put in place to allow a technical examination to be conducted by Garda forensic collision investigators.
It follows five road deaths at the weekend in what was the end of Road Safety Week.
Westmeath councillor Aengus O’Rourke told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘We’re witnessing too many tragic deaths on our roads at the moment and this is another stark reminder to us all to take care.’
There have now been a total of 145 road deaths this year, which surpasses the 139 figure for all of 2021. It is now feared that the number of fatalities in 2023 will eclipse last year’s figure of 155.
Over the weekend, five people lost their lives in separate collisions across the country.
Tributes have poured in for the victims, including 25-year-old Ian Conlon, who was killed in a road crash in Co. Roscommon on Monday at around 2.50am. The popular rugby and GAA player was remembered as a loving young man who had great pride in his community.
A friend of Mr Conlon’s wrote on social media: ‘You were a lovely, friendly lad... You will be so missed by everyone who knew you.’
On Sunday afternoon, a motorcyclist died in a single-vehicle collision near Glenties in Co. Donegal. The man, in his 40s, received medical treatment at the scene on the R262 but was pronounced deceased a short time later
Father-of-two Wayne Lynch, in his 40s, also died on Sunday, in the early hours of the morning, as he was walking home from watching Ireland defeat Scotland at the Rugby World Cup on TV.
He was struck by a vehicle at junction 16 southbound on the M1 motorway in Dundalk, Co. Louth, at around 2.45am.
Also, Joseph Nelligan, aged in his late teens, died on Saturday night after being hit by a car while out walking in Duagh village, Listowel, Co. Kerry, just before 10pm.
On Friday, a man in his 60s died after his car veered into a lake on Inishbiggle Island in Achill, Co Mayo, at around 8.30pm.
The deceased, Christy Henry, was one of just 12 people believed to be resident on the island.