30 soldiers hurt in pile-up on M50

Up to 30 soldiers have been injured following a multi-vehilce collision on the M50 northbound this morning.

Up to 30 soldiers have been injured following a multi-vehilce collision on the M50 northbound this morning.

Shortly before 11am three military trucks collided with two civilian vehicles on the northbound lane near Ballymun.

According to the Defence Forces 22 soldiers have been taken to five different hospitals as a result of their injuries. One soldier suffered a broken leg, eleven  have spinal and neck injuries and 10 others suffered minor cuts and bruises.

The drivers of the civilian vehicles are not injured.

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The troops were on board a nine vehicle convoy that departed Cathal Brugha Barracks this morning with 75 personnel for an exercise in the Cooley Mountains, Co Louth.

The M50 northbound has fully reopened.

Meanwhile, PDforra, the group representing Defence Forces staff, has called for the suspension of travel on military trucks until safety devices are installed.

"We ask the Military Authorities to immediately suspend travel in these trucks until safety devices, which have been promised, are fitted in the best interests of Health & Safety," the group said in a statement.

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy is Digital Production Editor of The Irish Times