Tragedy struck two related families yesterday when three children died and a fourth was critically injured in a road crash in Co Monaghan.
The mother of one of the children who died was last night in intensive care in Monaghan General Hospital.
The dead were named last night as Gary Curtis (13), from Drumconrath, Co Meath, a nephew of the driver; Jamie Curtis (14), a sister of the driver; and Shauna Curtis (4), both from Nobber Co Meath, a daughter of the driver.
Last night, a 41-year-old motorcyclist died in a collision with a car at Cooley Hill, Tandragree, Co Antrim. He died at the scene shortly after 8 p.m., the RUC said.
Earlier yesterday a 49-year-old man was killed near Borris, Co Carlow, and a pedestrian who was knocked down on Sunday morning in Co Meath has also died.
The Co Monaghan crash occurred between a Toyota Corolla car and a milk tanker at Swan's Cross on the Monaghan-Cootehill road at 1.20 p.m. The junction has been the scene of previous fatal crashes.
The couple in the Corolla were a husband and wife. Their three children were in the car, along with a 13-year-old nephew and 14-year-old sister of the husband. Both teenagers were pronounced dead on arrival at Monaghan General Hospital.
The couple's four-year-old daughter died shortly after arriving at the hospital despite efforts to resuscitate her.
Her 10-year-old brother was in intensive care and on life support last night. His mother underwent lengthy surgery yesterday. The father and a three-month-old baby were uninjured while the tanker driver was treated for shock.
It is believed the car was on the minor road and collided with the tanker. The impact sent the car across the junction and into a wall.
Earlier yesterday a man was killed near Borris, Co Carlow, in an accident involving three vehicles. The crash occurred at 9.45 a.m. in the townland of at Ballyphenan, and the two cars and a truck were travelling in the same direction from Borris to Bagenalstown.
The deaths bring to 218 the number of people killed on the roads in the Republic this year.
Meanwhile, a seven-year-old girl and her parents were seriously injured in a road accident in the centre of Ennis, Co Clare. An oncoming car struck the family as they were walking near Wood Quay, throwing the child into the nearby river. She was rescued by fire services.