A brother and sister were among four people killed in two separate road accidents in Ireland over the weekend, while an Irish student in his 20s died in a motorcycle accident in Thailand.
On Saturday night, Mr David George Quinn (60) and Ms Margaret Quinn (59), both from Ashgrove, Markethill, Co Armagh, were killed in the accident which occurred at Ardchicken, Donegal town, last night at 10.30 p.m.
The two were killed instantly, while the third passenger, who was in the back seat of the car, was critically injured. She is currently in a serious condition at Letterkenny General Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle involved, a jeep, received minor injuries.
A 65-year-old woman was also killed instantly in a crash between two cars at Keelogue, Killeshin, Co Laois, shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The woman was a front seat passenger in one of the cars. A further five people were injured in the crash. They were taken by ambulance to St Luke's hospital in Kilkenny.
A 45-year-old woman was also killed in a two-car collision between Enniscorthy and Bundclody in Co Wexford shortly before 6p.m. yesterday evening.
So far this year, 191 people have been killed in 167 accidents on Irish roads, including 34 pedestrians, 79 drivers and 42 passengers. This compares with 174 fatalities for the same period last year.
The Department of Foreign Affairs last night confirmed the death of an Irishman in his 20s following a motorcycle accident in Thailand. Mr Robert Burke was believed to have been a student in UCD.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs told The Irish Times: "We can confirm the death of Robert Burke in Thailand as a result of a motorcycle accident. The victim's family are being offered consular assistance by our embassy in Kuala Lumpur. . ."