Three Die Overnight On North's Road

Three people have been killed in an overnight road crash in Co Down - while another person has also died in Co Clare.

There are few details as yet about the accident, other than it is understood two cars were involved in the collision on the Killinchy Road, near Comber and that the crash happened shortly after midnight.

Two men and a woman travelling in one of the two cars were killed and as police remain at the scene this morning, their names have not yet been released.

The road is likely to be closed for most of the morning between the Tullymagee Road and Quarry Road junctions.

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has expressed deep sadness at news that three people have died in a two car crash near Comber.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "This is simply devastating for the families of those who died in this tragedy and the community is reeling at this horrendous news.

"More families will be without treasured loved ones this Christmas. This is heartbreaking and I want to extend my deepest sympathies to them.

"Our roads have claimed three more lives and we must continue to do all we can to increase road safety and prevent any further tragic news of this nature," he said.

There has also been a tragedy in the Irish republic with Gardai at Ennis, Co Clare investigating a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision which occurred at Toormore at approximately 10pm last night.

A 30-year-old male driver - who was the only occupant of the car - was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was removed to the Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick where a post mortem will take place later today.

The scene of the collision was closed pending a full examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and is expected to re-open later this morning.

Earlier, Gardai in Ballymote are investigating a separate fatal road traffic collision involving two cars, which occurred on the N4 on the Sligo side of Castlebaldwin in the townland of Ardloy, Co Sligo shortly after 12pm in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The driver and only occupant of one of the vehicles, a female in her mid 40s, was taken to Sligo General where she was later pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, the PSNI in the North have revealed that the number of drivers and motorcyclists detected drink-driving during the first two weeks of this year's winter drink driving campaign in Northern Ireland increased by more than 15%.

One person was four-and-a-half times the legal limit. A total of 230 offenders were detected, 31 more than last year.

(BMcC/KMcA)