GARDAÍ ARE appealing for information about the location of two vehicles prior to a crash that claimed the lives of four young men in Co Offaly on Friday.
Lee Bryan (24) and brothers David (24), Darren (27) and Ryan (17) Doyle were killed when their maroon Honda Civic collided with a minibus at Meelaghans on the outskirts of Tullamore on the R420 road from Portarlington. Three occupants of the minibus were injured in the collision.
Gardaí are viewing CCTV footage in an effort to piece together the events leading up to the collision.
They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen either the maroon Honda Civic in the Tullamore area or a white minibus in the Portarlington area between 4pm and 5.30pm, or anyone who may have spoken with the occupants of either vehicle.
Gardaí are also appealing to “anyone who observed the maroon Honda Civic leaving Tullamore town and driving towards the scene of the collision at approximately 5.20pm, or the white minibus travelling from Geashill village towards Tullamore at the same time”.
Witnesses with information are asked to contact Tullamore Garda station on 057-9327600, the Garda confidential line on 1800- 666-111, or any Garda station.
Arrangements are being made for the funerals of the four men. They all lived in the same estate, Na Cluainte in Portarlington.
It is expected the Doyle brothers will be buried in Dublin. They had moved from Tallaght to Portarlington in recent years.
Mr Bryan, who had a partner and child, was originally from Clondalkin and played for local Gracefield football club.
Gardaí are also seeking witnesses to three other road incidents in which seven people were seriously injured in counties Tipperary, Wexford and Cork.
Two men, aged 19 and 20, were seriously injured in a crash in the village of Holycross, Co Tipperary, at around 2.30am yesterday.
No other vehicle was involved in the incident and the injured were brought to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel for treatment. Anyone with information is asked to contact Thurles Garda station on 0504-25100.
In Cork city three men, one aged 20 and two aged 19, were injured when their vehicle hit a wall at Lehenaghmore hill in Togher on the south side of the city at 11.30pm on Saturday.
All three were taken to Cork University Hospital. They are understood to be in a serious but not life-threatening condition. Anyone with information is asked to contact Togher Garda station on 021-4947120.
In Co Wexford a man and woman in their mid-20s were seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash on the Gorey to Cranford road at Knockbrandon at 7.30pm on Saturday. They were taken to Wexford General Hospital. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on 053-9430690.
Forensic collision investigators attended all three crash scenes.
The AA warned motorists to take extra care while driving following the number of collisions over the weekend.