A young Kerry footballer was among three people killed in a head-on collision in Co Tipperary yesterday morning.
The dead were named as Mr Martin Beckett (18), single, of Woodlawn Road, Killarney, a member of this year's victorious Kerry All-Ireland under-21 football team, and Mr Sean O'Connor (18), single, also from Woodlawn Road, Killarney. The third victim was Mr Gerard Phelan (28), single, of Eirk, Crosspatrick, Co Kilkenny, who was driving the second car.
Mr Tadgh Kelly (19), single, of Aughacurren, Killarney, who was injured in the crash, was in a stable condition in Nenagh General Hospital last night.
The accident occurred at Clonalee, on a straight stretch of road about a mile on the Nenagh side of Toomevara. The cars involved were a Toyota Carina and a Daihatsu Charade.
The three young Co Kerry men were returning from holiday in Ibiza and were on their way from Dublin to Killarney in the Daihatsu Charade when the accident occurred at about 11 a.m. Nenagh Fire Brigade had to use cutting equipment to free the victims.
A Garda spokesman in Killarney said that Martin Beckett was a very promising young footballer. "The town is devastated by his death and that of the two other young men, two of whom lived on the same road".
Nenagh gardai are seeking witnesses and can be contacted by calling 067-31333.
A Limerick man in his teens was killed yesterday when the car he was driving overturned and hit a ditch. The accident happened near Herbertstown, Co Limerick, at about 1.30 p.m.