The weekend road death toll rose to eight yesterday after a motorist and a pedestrian were killed in Cavan and Wexford.
Johnny Connors (47) died when his van struck a tree at Spout Road, Clonroche, Co Wexford, at 12.40am yesterday. His wife and two children were also in the van and were taken to Wexford General Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
On Sunday night a 79-year-old male pedestrian was seriously injured when struck by a car at Munnilly, Cootehill, Co Cavan. Arthur McCabe, from Dairybrae, Cootehill, was taken to Cavan General Hospital, where he later died. His son, Harry, is a Sinn Féin councillor in the area.
Meanwhile, gardaí have released the name of the pedestrian killed in Co Offaly on Sunday afternoon. Edith Gilbert (81), from Bunclody, Co Wexford, was struck by a car as she was walking at Ballycumber near Clara.
Her death followed five deaths in Co Donegal over a 24-hour period. An 18-month-old girl was orphaned by one of the crashes.
A Derry couple, Tony Doherty (20) and Róisín Doherty (18), were killed when the car they were travelling in left the road and struck a tree near Muff on Sunday morning. Father Eamon Graham, administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, who will officiate at Mr Doherty's funeral, said the fact that a baby girl had lost both her parents added to the tragedy.
"The family is completely numbed with shock and completely distraught.
"They are very good decent people and it is awful that a tragedy of such magnitude has arrived on them," he said. Donegal's road safety officer has said that a three-year action plan is being put together to reduce road deaths in the county.
Eamonn Brown said that the five deaths in Donegal would "strengthen the resolve of agencies working together to improve road safety". The Road Safety Authority described the weekend death toll as a "dreadful loss of life". Spokesman Brian Farrell said that the high number of deaths would serve as a reminder to motorists that driving was one of the most dangerous activities they could engage in.
Mr Farrell pointed out that road deaths had decreased by 30 per cent since mandatory alcohol testing was introduced last July.
Up to yesterday, 15 fewer people had been killed on the roads this year in comparison with the same period in 2006.