IN SHORT

A round-up of today's other home news in brief

A round-up of today's other home news in brief

Two men killed in Tipperary road crash

Two men have died following a single vehicle road traffic incident in Co Tipperary, writes Mary Minihan. A pickup truck in which the men were travelling collided with a tree at Ballysheehan, Cashel at 9.15am yesterday morning.

The men were brought to Tipperary General Hospital, where the 26-year-old passenger was pronounced dead a short time later.

The 35-year-old driver was also pronounced dead shortly after 6.30pm yesterday.

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Gardaí at Cahir are investigating the incident and anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact the Garda station on 052-45630.

Meanwhile in Co Limerick, a man died yesterday following a road traffic incident on Monday evening. Gardaí in Bruff are investigating the two-vehicle collision which occurred at Newtown, Bruff.

Three men were brought to Limerick Regional Hospital after the van in which they were travelling was involved in a collision with a truck.

A 34-year-old passenger in the van was pronounced dead at 5pm yesterday.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact Bruff Garda station on 061-382940.

Donegal travel company closes

The holiday plans of some 300 people may be affected by the closure of a Donegal travel company, writes Genevieve Carbery.

Yesterday the Commission for Aviation regulation (CAR) reassured those who booked holidays with Grant Travel Ltd in Letterkenny, trading as Driftaway Travel, that refunds would be available.

No customers were abroad with the company when it closed, the CAR spokesman said. Proprietor Deirdre Grant has been working to transfer bookings to other agents and at least 50 per cent have been transferred, the CAR spokesman added.

Those affected are advised to contact Driftaway Travel or download a claim form from the aviation regulator’s website www.aviationreg.ie.

Driftaway Travel employed some 13 people and had been in business for 22 years.

Fishing vessel in payments row

An Irish-registered fishing vessel was unable to unload its catch in Norway last night, due to a row over payment to crew, writes Lorna Siggins.

The Norwegian Seamen’s Union claims that the 16 crew on board the Galway vessel, Capall Óir, are owed a total of €160,000. The vessel was tied up in the Norwegian port of Tromso, and efforts are being made to resolve the issue with the owners.

Farmer banned for slow driving

The Irish Farmers’ Association has expressed its sympathy for a farmer who was banned for driving too slowly in his tractor and failing to pull over to allow traffic pass.

At Castlebar District Court last week Judge Mary Devins banned Michael Nevin (51), Glenhest, Newport, from driving for one year, after she called him “arrogant” and “individualistic” for failing to pull over for traffic on his return from Balla mart.

The chairman of Mayo IFA Martin Gavin said that he had “total sympathy” for the farmer. “This issue is a major concern for farmers since an awful lot of marts around Mayo are closed down . . . they are forced to drive to Balla mart,” said Mr Gavin.

€3m settlement for brain damage

A young man who sustained severe brain damage and is now in a wheelchair following a road collision has secured €3 million in settlement of his High Court action.

David Smith (28), Heronstown, Lobinstown, Navan, Co Meath, was aged 19 when the collision occurred at Tullyallen, Co Louth, in June 1999.

He was not wearing a seat-belt while a rear-seat passenger in a van.The driver was insured under a policy which did not provide for the coverage of passengers.