TWO COUNCIL meetings scheduled to take place in Donegal this week are expected to discuss road safety and counselling issues arising out of last Sunday’s two- car crash in Donegal in which eight people died.
A meeting of Donegal County Council is due to take place on Tuesday at which a minute’s silence is to be held for the victims of the crash, seven of whom were aged between 19 and 23 years old and who were travelling in the same car.
A meeting of Buncrana Town Council on Wednesday will be addressed by members of the Buncrana Community Combating Suicide awareness group.
The group will address the town council on the provision of counselling services into the future.
The mayor of Buncrana and deputy mayor of Donegal County Council, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, said that, now that the wakes and funerals had taken place, it was important that community supports were put in place for the families of those who had died.
It was also important for young people in the community, many of whom will have been deeply affected by this tragedy, to have supports available, he added.
“It’s been proven again and again when you have a tragedy like this that it can have a knock-on affect.”
The condition of the only survivor of the crash, the driver of one of the vehicles, 22-year-old Shaun Kelly, is described as stable but improving.
Although he remained in the intensive care unit of Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday evening it is understood that he may be moved to another ward in coming days.
The seven dead men travelling with Mr Kelly were; Mark McLaughlin (21) of Ballinahone, Fahan; Paul Doherty (19) of Ardagh, Ballyliffen; Ciarán Sweeney (19) of Ballyliffen; PJ McLaughlin (21) of Rockstown, Burnfoot; James McEleney (23) of Minaduff, Clonmany; Eamonn McDaid (22) of Cruckaheeney, Buncrana and Damien McLaughlin (21) of Umricam, Buncrana.
The driver of the second car was Hugh Friel (66) from Dunaff, Clonmany, who was travelling from Buncrana where he had been attending bingo when the collision occurred.