At least four of the five young people killed on Donegal’s roads in a horrific 24 hour period were NOT wearing seatbelts, it has been revealed.
The brutal revelation comes as the families of the five, aged between 19 and 28, prepare to bury their loved ones.
The families of Barney McGinley, 28, Dermot Boyle, 19, Theresa Robinson, Steven McGrath-McCafferty and Kaylem O Murachaidh have been left with gaping holes in their lives.
Once again Donegal has been pushed into the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons after yet another chapter of untold grief.
But the huge loss of young life in such a short space of time on our county’s roads has once again led Gardai to ask “why?”
Donegal County Council and An Garda Siochana are actively engaged in continually delivering a safety message to drivers across our county.
And yet time and time again it appears that speed, the lack of safety-belt use and drink-driving is leading to deaths or serious injury in Donegal.
Donegal’s Road Safety Officer Brian O’Donnell has been to the fore of that campaign and this week again appealed for people to slow down and drive with caution on the eve of the Bank Holiday Weekend.
But the latest road deaths has left the Head of the Garda Traffic Corps, Inspector Michael Harrison, exasperated.
The experienced cop was speaking after coming from the devastating scenes which left five families picking up the pieces after the devastating deaths of these five young people.
Inspector Harrison said “I’m at a loss for words. I just don’t know how many times we can try and get this message across.
“I can say this until I’m blue in the face but there are three factors which will reduce the carnage on Donegal’s roads.
“People need to slow down their speed, they need to wear the seat-belts at all times and they cannot under any circumstances drink and drive.
“It’s that simple and yet so many people are ignoring these three factors and that is why we have serious injury, deaths and so much carnage on our roads.”
We have already lost five of our young people this weekend.
Please respect the road and ensure that we don’t add to that death toll this weekend or any weekend.
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