‘Hearts shattered’ as 2 victims pictured after 3 separate horror crashes in 12-hr span & touching family tributes paid

The latest fatalities take the death toll on our roads to 183 for 2025, nine deaths more than for the entirety of 2024 — with around two weeks to go
THREE people have lost their lives on Irish roads in separate crashes across 12 hours — with the sister of one victim describing it as a “bad nightmare”.

And there are now calls for the Government to do more to end the carnage after the ­latest tragedies in Limerick, Monaghan and Tipperary.

Two men in their 20s and a woman in her 30s died in three separate smashes across 12 horrific hours over Wednesday night and yesterday morning.

Nathan Walsh died in the first collision on the N24 at Cordangan Cross, near Tipperary town, at around 9.45pm on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old — who was ­travelling alone — was pronounced dead at the scene after the ­single-vehicle tragedy.

His body was taken to Waterford University Hospital for an autopsy.
Locals said Nathan was from the nearby village of Bansha — and had only recently turned 24.

His heartbroken mum Gina Walsh led the tributes, saying: “Son, I will always keep talking about you. You deserve to be remembered.”

Cousin Jackie added: “Our hearts are shattered. Please give us strength to get through this.

“Keep an eye on your mother and Nicole and nanny Peg and Grandad especially. Fly high kid.

“We love you always and we’ll miss you forever Nate. Forever 24.”

Just hours later, young Traveller Simon ‘Sammy’ McInerney lost his life in a crash in Limerick.

The 21-year-old, of Rathkeale, was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-vehicle collision on the N21 in ­Templeglantine, at around 12.50am yesterday.

‘LIKE A BAD NIGHTMARE’

Three youths — two female juveniles and an older male teenager — travelling in the same car were seriously injured in the collision.

The trio were rushed from the scene by ambulances to University Hospital Limerick and Kerry.

The driver of the other car, a man in his 20s and believed to be from Ukraine, was also brought to University Hospital Kerry with non-life-threatening injuries.

Sammy’s heartbroken sister ­Josceline last night described the tragedy as “like a bad nightmare”.

‘BEST BROTHER’

Hailing Sammy as the “best brother”, she added: “You will always be number one to me.

“Please will someone tell me why is life so cruel, it’s just so unfair what happened, I love you so much, my lovely brother Sammy.

“It’s like a bad nightmare I’m not waking up from, my lovely brother that I love with all my heart, God why did you take him from us, a child of 21 years of age.

“I’ll never stop asking God why this happened. You didn’t deserve to go when God took you, he really did take the best, because that’s what you are to me, my baby brother, the best brother.

‘UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN’

“I love you so much Sammy, you broke my heart in a million pieces our child, it will never be goodbye, just until we meet again, fly high my brother, forever 21.”

Later yesterday, a woman in her 30s was killed in a collision involving a lorry and a car.

The woman, who was travelling alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene on the N2 at Mullaghnee, near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, at around 8am.

Her body was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

A man in his 50s has been arrested over the Monaghan crash and was yesterday being held at a Garda station in the northwest.

The latest fatalities take the death toll on our roads to 183 for 2025. That is nine deaths more than for the entirety of 2024 — with around two weeks to go.

Road safety campaigners last night spoke of their shock at the recent spate of road deaths.

Susan Gray founded the Parents & Relatives of Crash Victims group after losing husband Steve in an RTA in 2004.

‘VERY DISAPPOINTED’

But Ms Gray claimed the Government was not taking road safety seriously and called for Gardai to be urgently given extra resources.

She said PARC were “very disappointed” that only 68 new Garda recruits were allocated to Road Policing Units by October 8 — 82 short of the 150 promised by December 31 by former Garda chief Drew Harris.

Ms Gray said: “The recent tragedies on Irish roads have been truly shocking. Young people who never thought they would not be here this Christmas to celebrate with their family and friends. It is hard to comprehend.

“We desperately need to get the road safety message across — and ensure that road safety regulations are rigorously enforced.

ROAD DEATH TOLL

“But this includes all the stakeholders, from the Government to State agencies, and from prioritising recruitment to the Gardai to closing loopholes in the law and devoting the resources to road safety to reduce the number of fatalities.”

The 183 people who died in road traffic tragedies so far this year include 73 drivers, 43 pedestrians, 20 passengers, 30 motorcyclists, two e-scooter users, 14 pedal cyclists and one pillion passenger.

In 2018, Ireland had 138 road deaths — but road deaths have steadily climbed since then.

PARC has unveiled a ten-point plan to enhance road safety.

This includes closing loopholes over learner permits, ensuring all disqualified drivers are tracked, and mandatory driving license surrender on disqualification.

PARC is also pushing for proper enforcement of all road safety ­regulations and mutual recognition of disqualified drivers with the UK.

And it wants to see extra officers and equipment resources for Garda Road Policing Units.