Kerry Crash 'Devastating Blow'

The Labour party have described yesterday's road crash in Kerry, which claimed the lives of four teenagers, as a "devastating blow".

Gardaí investigating the crash are today trying to establish the exact movements of the vehicle in the hours leading up to the crash outside Killarney early yesterday.

Brothers David, 17, and Kevin Breen, 15 from Hazelwood Drive, Ballyspillane, Killarney, and Áine O’Riordan, 15, from St John’s Park, Castleisland, all died at the scene, while Brian Coffey who was 19-years-old, from Crohane, Fossa, died later in hospital.

A fifth passenger, Darragh Jones, 16, from Farranfore, was last night in a stable condition at Kerry General Hospital following the crash at Carrigeen, four miles from Killarney on the Killarney-Mallow road.

Speaking this morning in response to the tragedy, Labour's Spoeksman on Transport Joe Costello said the incident was a tragedy of "immense proportions".

"I would like to extend my sympathies to the families of those who have died and to the family of the young man who survived the crash and who remains hospitalised. My thoughts are also with the communities in Killarney, Castleisland & Farranfore where I am sure many people, especially the young, are grief stricken.

"It is a devastating blow to any community to lose four young people in such a tragic manner and I am sure that many families all around the country were deeply affected by their deaths."

MR Costello went on to say that although the deaths occured against a backdrop of an overall reduction in road fatalities, there seemed to be an increase in road fatalities of young people as evidenced by the deaths of eight young men in Donegal last month.

"It is clear that more needs to be done. We now need the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to address a range of outstanding road safety issues including the national speed camera rollout, speed signage and limits, enforcement and the Graduated Driver Licence Scheme as a matter of urgency."

An upcoming forensic examination is expected to shed light on whether speed was a factor in the crash. Gardaí are awaiting the results of postmortem results, including toxicology reports.

They believe the driver lost control of the car as it was taking a fairly gentle left-hand bend. Driving conditions at the time were described as good.

Gardai investigating the incident, which happened on the N72 at Barraduff, have appealed for witnesses to come forward. They said that no other vehicles were involved.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or have any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda station on 064-6671160, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.

(DW/GK)