‘The message needs to get through’

Three men lose their lives in black week on Cavan roads

Days after two deaths within the space of 24 hours on Cavan’s roads - three in eight days in the east of the county - one driver was clocked travelling at a speed of 163kmph along the N3 on Sunday evening.

The day before (Saturday), another driver was detected speeding at 148kmph, and in separate incidents close together, cars were caught travelling at 139kmph and 135kmph respectively.

In total, more than a dozen Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) were handed out by the Cavan Roads Policing Unit, who at the weekend conducted a high visibility operation on the N3, N55 and N54 following recent road accidents and fatalities.

“The message is clear. The message is to slow down, and that message needs to get through,” says chief superintendent for the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division, Alan McGovern. “People need to think about the devastating impact road traffic accidents can have.”

He says the heightened garda presence will continue on local roads, and adds that gardaí will continue to work closely with other agencies and stakeholders to better promote road safety and enforce the rules of the road.

“We want people to be safe on the road. Driver behaviour is critical to that. By working together, we can make our roads safer. Behind every statistic is a heartbroken family, a devastated community.”

Tragedy

His comments follow the funeral takes yesterday (Wednesday), May 10, of Peter Aronik, the person involved in the third of three recent fatal road accidents.

Mr Aronik of Boggan, Moynalty, Co Meath, formerly Brookville, Mullagh, and native of Bielsko-Biala, a city in Southern Poland best known for its automotive industry, died following a collision involving a car and a parked truck on Friday, May 5.

Mr Aronik, a father of one and lorry driver, was the sole occupant of the car involved in the crash on the R178 at Carrickgorman (Stonewall), near Bailieborough. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His death was the second in just 24 hours after Colm Tully, Mullaghboy, Cootehill, who died Thursday, May 4, following a crash involving a car and a lorry on the N3 at New Inns, Ballyjamesduff.

The 26-year-old plumber by trade was the driver of the car. At his funeral Mr Tully was described as having the ability “to make all around him happy”.

“He had the craic, and people were better for being in his presence.”

Their deaths occurred a little over a week after Aaron Keenan (22), a member of a well known family with businesses in Ardee, Co Louth, died following a motorcycle accident on the R165 at Cornakill outside Kingscourt on Wednesday, April 26.

The 22-year-old, from Deery’s Terrace, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gifts symbolising his life, including his motorcycle jersey, a toy car, an Inniskeen GAA jersey, a family photo and a bible were brought to the altar during his funeral.

Mr Keenan was among those remembered at the National Bikers’ Memorial last Friday (May 5) at Clones’ Sacred Heart Church.

Memorial

Last year saw 10 road deaths occur across Cavan-Monaghan. To date in 2023 there have been six, three in each county.

All of the Cavan fatal road traffic collisions have occurred in the east of the county.

The deaths in 2022 include three pedestrians, and well-known biker Kieran Brennan, who died following a crash on the Old Armagh Road in Monaghan Town in March.

Brian MacUaid, member Bikers’ Memorial Committee, remembers what the late Fr John Kearns, co-founder of the ‘Gone But Not Forgotten Bikers Memorial’, would remind people attending the annual event. “It’s not about being able to tell people how quick you were able to get your bike to go nought to 60, it’s about how quickly you’re able to get it back from 60 to nought again safely, the inference being you drive within the distances you can see, always keep within the limits.”

Mr MacUaid says the memorial is a “worthy reminder” of those who have passed, but also for those still alive and driving the roads. “[As a biker] you’ve an inch and a quarter square of rubber on the road at any one time. The mere fact we remember so many people each year is a reminder that you really need to be careful out there.”

Council tribute

A moment of silence was held by councillors to remember the three road victims who lost their lives on Cavan roads recently.

Speaking at the meeting Independent Councillor Shane P O’Reilly stated it had been a “terrible month in our area and for our emergency services”.

He commended the firefighters, ambulance services and An Garda Síochána in Bailieborough for the work done in extremely tragic circumstances.