Teacher, tiny baby and OAP die in car crashes

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the single-vehicle accident at about 1.40am on Sunday on the R163 at Headfort, Kells.

The driver, named locally as Craig Lynch (29), was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was removed to Navan Hospital. It is understood that the car he was driving left the road and hit a wall. He was the only person in the vehicle.

A source said Mr Lynch was a "much-loved" science teacher at Eureka Secondary School in Kells. Local councillor Sarah O'Reilly said the entire community was in shock.

Awful

"It was very upsetting to hear that a young man has died in such awful circumstances," she said. "The whole community is in shock and my thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very sad time."

In Co Limerick, another community is mourning the loss of a baby boy and praying for the recovery of his mother after a fatal collision on Friday.

The infant, and his mother who sustained serious head injuries in the two-car collision, were named locally as Dion and Danielle Ryan.

Ms Ryan, aged in her early 20s, is understood to be originally from Caherconlish but lives in Kilteely, Co Limerick.

Her car was travelling near the village of Cappamore when it was in collision with another vehicle at the Four Cross Roads shortly after 2pm.

The female driver of the other car was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution. Baby Dion was airlifted to the same hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Cappamore Fianna Fail councillor Martin Ryan said the local community where the collision happened were in "total shock".

"It has struck the heart of everyone here," he said.

"You have a little baby losing their life. It's very tragic. We're saying prayers for everyone involved and their families"

A 77-year-old pensioner also died on Friday in a crash in Co Galway. The man, who died near Claregalway, has been named locally as Tommy Farrell.