Thousands of chickens killed as road collapses and lorry turns over

Remedial repair works on the L2026 at Tullyunshin were discussed in detail during a meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District meeting on Friday.

Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aontu) raised the issue when she pointed to the “bad condition” of the route.

She also highlighted how numerous people contacted her to ask if it would be possible to carry out necessary works on the road.

Director of Services, Paddy Connaughton, told those gathered that there was 7.1km of the route - Canningstown to Laragh - “with an extremely bad road surface”.

Cllr O’Reilly then pointed out that the road is going through a bog and the sides of the road are collapsing. “The other day, a lorry carrying 7,500 chickens pulled in to let another lorry pass and, as he did so, the road gave way,” she continued.

“The lorry rolled over and most of the chickens were killed,” she continued.

"The heavy traffic on the road is leading to a lot of the problems that we have.”

Meanwhile, area engineer Clinton Mulligan said that in recent times “significant sections” of the road had overlay repairs carried out. “I understand people’s frustration but we can only do the best that we can with the resources that we have,” he added.