5 men, woman die in weekend car accidents

Three men died in road accidents in the State on Saturday.

Three men died in road accidents in the State on Saturday.

A car passenger, Mr Gary Sweeney (22), of Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, was killed when the car in which he was travelling hit a ditch near Blennerville, Co Kerry, at 3 p.m. No other vehicle was involved.

A pedestrian, Mr Jimmy Minogue (65), was killed when he was struck by a car at 6 p.m. at Whitegate, Co Clare.

Mr Nigel Hoyle (45), of Annacourty, Co Tipperary, was killed when his car went out of control and hit a bridge at Clountoulty, Co Tipperary, at 7 p.m.

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A 69-year-old woman was killed when the car she was driving was involved in a two-car collision at Cappagh, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, on Friday. A 79-year-old woman passenger was seriously injured and the 27-year-old male driver of the other vehicle was also injured, according to a Garda spokesman.

In the North, two brothers died when their car hit a tree in Co Derry on Friday night. Mr Vishall Thomas McCloskey (30), from Claudy, Co Derry, and his brother, Mr Drew McCloskey (24), from Dun given, Co Derry, were in a car which hit a tree on the Corrick Road, near Dungiven, just before 7 p.m. on Friday.

A friend who was also in the car was taken to hospital where he was later described as "stable". Police said Mr Vishall McCloskey was driving the vehicle.

The parents of the brothers, both plasterers, are believed to have been in Dublin on Friday night to watch their cousin, Paul McCloskey, an Ulster lightweight boxing champion, fight at the National Stadium. A 30-second silence was held before the contest as a mark of respect.

The crash is the second tragedy to occur within the McCloskey family circle in recent months. The brothers were also related to Mr Gary Moore, who was murdered by loyalists on a Belfast building site before Christmas.

Father Andy McCluskey, a local curate, said: "Dungiven is a very close-knit community and we are all very, very shocked."