Another Death As Temperatures Fall

Snow is falling again across many parts of Ireland today with the forecast for the north and northwest overnight giving temperatures as low as -10C.

As a result, the Severe Weather Co-ordination Committee has warned ice is now causing a major hazard and people are "driving way too fast".

The committee said today there has been a huge effort by communities across Ireland to clear footpaths and housing estates and this had led to a dramatic reduction in injuries being reported to hospitals.

The warnings came as the body of an 85-year-old man was found near his home outside Ballina in Co Mayo.

Gardaí believe his death was a result of a fall in the current freezing weather conditions.

The body was discovered at around 2pm yesterday afternoon.

The man lived alone in Derryhillagh, a rural area near Ballina.

It is believed he slipped and fell on icy ground a short distance from his home.

He is the second pensioner in Mayo believed to have died as a result of falling on ice after a 78-year-old man was found on the footpath leading to his house in Claremorris last week.

In Cork, an 81-year-old man was found dead in a field near his home.

The National Roads Authority said salt supplies are being maintained and 28,000 tonnes are still available but, black ice and some freezing fog are continuing to make driving conditions on motorways, national roads and secondary roads across the country dangerous.

Parts of the west and northwest are particularly badly affected, from Mayo through Sligo to Donegal, and Gardaí also continue to advise extreme caution on the N17 and N5.

(BMcC)