Pedestrians account for almost one in three local road deaths this year

Almost a third of all road deaths recorded in Cavan and Monaghan to date in 2022 have been pedestrians.

Retired librarian Lucy Clarke died last weekend at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda as a result of her injuries. She was hit by a car on Tuesday evening, November 8, in the east Cavan town.

Her sad passing brings the total number of road deaths reported in Cavan and Monaghan so far this year to 10.

* Tributes paid on passing of retired Bailieboro librarian *

By comparison, there were 10 road deaths in the district last year - five in each county.

There were just two road deaths recorded in Cavan for all of 2020.

The accident in which Mrs Clarke was involved was one of more than half a dozen to occur on Irish roads in the past seven days.

Gardaí continue to investigate the serious road traffic collision involving a member of the force who was assisting a motorist whose car had broken down on the N25 Youghal bypass, Co Cork last Sunday evening, November 13.

There was also a fatal road traffic collision on N24 Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary on Sunday evening; on the R173 at Drumullagh, Omeath (also Sunday); a hit and run road traffic collision in Gorey, Co Wexford, in the early hours of November 12; Kilkenny on Thursday, November 10; Beresford Place/Eden Quay junction, Dublin 1 on Wednesday, November 9; Whitebank Road in Dublin 4 and Ramelton Road in Letterkenny, Co Donegal (Wednesday).

Serious accident

Gardaí in the Cavan-Monaghan Division are continuing also to investigate after a woman in her 30s suffered serious injuries after being hit by a tractor on the Main Street of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, last Wednesday evening, November 9.

So far in 2022 (November 14) there have been 135 road deaths recorded in Ireland, 19 more than for the entirity of 2021, and 18 more than 2020. It includes a marked rise in the number of pedestrians killed (28), with 54 deaths being drivers, 22 passengers, and 22 motorcyclists.

That figure includes five road deaths now in Cavan in 2022, and five more in Monaghan.

In March, student Ciara Ellis Lynch (21) sadly lost her life following a three-vehicle collision at Derrygarra Lower, Butlersbridge; and in that same month well-known biker Kieran Brennan died after being involved in a two-vehicle crash on the Old Armagh Road in Monaghan Town.

In May, Richard Merriman (36) lost his life as a result of a single-vehicle road traffic collision on the L3022 near Virginia; while dad-of-two Peter Murphy (58) from Stranooden died when the steamroller he was driving was involved in a collision near Smithboro.

Luke Byrne (17), from Bawnboy, Co Cavan, passed away after the car in which he was travelling was involved in a collision; and a man remains on bail as investigations continue into the fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of Frank Nulty (57) near Bills Bridge, Ballyjamesduff, in August.

Husband and wife Ronnie and Jean Hollinger, from Ballybay, Monaghan, meanwhile died last month following a collision involving two cars and a lorry on the N2 at Mullaghnee near Castleblayney.

The accident happened less than 24 hours after a male pedestrian, aged in his 90s, was struck and fatally injured by a van on the N2 in Drumgeeny, October 26.

Data obtained revealed a total of 16 fatal collisions occurred on the N2 between January 1, 2017, and September 14, 2022.

Not included in the Cavan figures is the death of 23-year-old Harrison Jameson following a single-vehicle road crash in Co Armagh in October.