Five people in their early 20s were killed and three others injured in a two-vehicle collision near Dundalk, County Louth, on Saturday evening. The crash occurred at approximately 9pm on the Ardee road at Gibstown.
The victims, all occupants of a Volkswagen Golf, were named as Shay Duffy (21) and Chloe McGee (23), both from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; Alan McCluskey (23) from Drumconrath, County Meath; Dylan Commins (23) from Ardee, County Louth; and Chloe Hipson (21) from Lanarkshire, Scotland. A sixth occupant of the Golf, a male, survived and was released from hospital after treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The two occupants of the Toyota Land Cruiser involved, a male and a female, were also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was 'numbed and shocked', while Tánaiste Simon Harris described a 'veil of deep sadness' over the country and paid tribute to first responders. Gardaí appealed for witnesses or dashcam footage from between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday.
Superintendent Liam Geraghty noted that Sunday was World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, saying the crash was 'a very clear reminder of how things can change dramatically on our roads in a split second'. A total of 157 people have died on Irish roads so far this year.
