July 2010 R238 traffic collision
Encyclopedia
Eight people were killed on the night of 11 July 2010 when a black Volkswagen Passat
collided with a red Toyota Corolla
on the R238 Buncrana to Clonmany
road on the Inishowen Peninsula
in County Donegal
, Ireland
. It was the deadliest road accident in the country's history. The road at Glasmullen was not previously thought of as an accident blackspot
. Seven of those who died watched the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final
shortly before their deaths, while the eighth was returning home after playing bingo. The crash and the funerals, which took place over a three-day period, attracted both national and international attention. By comparison, the number of other people to die on the nation's roads that weekend was two.
on the narrow R238 road, leaving the female driver unhurt. A motorist had also flashed his lights in an attempt to warn the Passat to slow down. Then the Passat collided with the Toyota Corolla. Both ended up in a ditch.
Those killed came from Buncrana, Clonmany and Fahan
. The Volkswagen Passat was occupied by eight men, aged between 19 and 23: Mark McLaughlin, aged 21; Paul Doherty, aged 19; Ciaran Sweeney, aged 19; PJ McLaughlin, aged 21; James McEleney, aged 23; Eamonn McDaid, aged 22, and Damien McLaughlin, aged 21, who all died. An eighth passenger (the driver) was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital
. The car had five seat belts between the eight men and some corpses were retrieved outside the vehicle. The crash occurred near the home of one of those who died. The Toyota Corolla was occupied by one man, 66-year-old Hugh Friel. He was taken to the same hospital and died there. He had been driving home from Buncrana after participating in a bingo session there.
There was a delay in publishing the identities of those killed as some relatives were abroad, while others were at the Oxegen 2010
music festival in County Kildare
. A press conference was held at Buncrana Garda Station on 12 July during which the identities of the dead were made public. Alcohol was ruled out as a cause of the carnage. The R238 road was forensically examined, before being reopened on 13 July. Relatives inspected the crash scene and laid flowers before the road reopened. On 15 July, another appeal for witnesses was issued, though authorities also praised the "excellent co-operation" of members of the public.
The route where the crash took place is scheduled to receive speed cameras in October 2010.
in the aftermath of the crash, while leaflets offering advice were distributed. Local people openly cried, described an "eerie" atmosphere, were hesitant while driving if another vehicle approached; work was affected. One man was heard to say that a friend living in Boston
was to return to Ireland but "He has changed his mind now because all his friends are dead".
Brian Cowen
expressed shock at the "devastating news" and paid tribute from New York
. Minister for Transport
Noel Dempsey
praised the emergency services who assisted at the scene. Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern
said it was "horrific" and called for an improvement in road safety education. Local Senator, Cecelia Keaveney, called it "an ordeal". Labour
transport spokesperson Joe Costello
called it a "tragedy of immense proportions" and called for "tightening up the law". MEP
Pat the Cope Gallagher paid tribute and described "a dark cloud" over Inishowen.
Mayor of Buncrana/Deputy Mayor of Donegal Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said there was "mind numbing devastation" in the community. Fine Gael
Donegal North East
TD
Joe McHugh
called the crash a "nightmare", and "a terrible day for the county", suggesting that everyone in the area would have been familiar with at least one of those who died. Fianna Fáil
Donegal North East TD Jim McDaid
also expressed sympathy. Fine Gael councillor John Ryan said: "I don't think I've ever come across anything of this magnitude or this level of carnage. It's unbelievable".
Northern Ireland
's deputy First Minister
Martin McGuinness
also paid tribute.
After the funerals, two council meetings were thought to be planning to talk about road safety and counselling. There was a call for the establishment of a co-ordinated response strategy for Inishowen.
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
collided with a red Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
on the R238 Buncrana to Clonmany
Clonmany
Clonmany is a village in north-west Inishowen, in County Donegal, Ireland. The area has many local beauty spots, and the Ballyliffin area is famous for its golf course. The Urris area to the west of Clonmany village was the last bastion of the Irish language in Inishowen...
road on the Inishowen Peninsula
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was the deadliest road accident in the country's history. The road at Glasmullen was not previously thought of as an accident blackspot
Accident blackspot
An accident blackspot is a term used in road safety management to denote a place where road traffic accidents have historically been concentrated...
. Seven of those who died watched the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final
2010 FIFA World Cup Final
The 2010 FIFA World Cup Final was a football match that took place on 11 July 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, to determine the winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0 with a goal from Andrés Iniesta four minutes from the end of extra time...
shortly before their deaths, while the eighth was returning home after playing bingo. The crash and the funerals, which took place over a three-day period, attracted both national and international attention. By comparison, the number of other people to die on the nation's roads that weekend was two.
Crash
The Volkswagen Passat initially hit a white Renault MéganeRenault Mégane
The Renault Mégane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. It is offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles...
on the narrow R238 road, leaving the female driver unhurt. A motorist had also flashed his lights in an attempt to warn the Passat to slow down. Then the Passat collided with the Toyota Corolla. Both ended up in a ditch.
Those killed came from Buncrana, Clonmany and Fahan
Fahan
Fahan is a district of Inishowen, in County Donegal, located five kilometres south of Buncrana. In Irish, Fahan is named after its patron saint, St...
. The Volkswagen Passat was occupied by eight men, aged between 19 and 23: Mark McLaughlin, aged 21; Paul Doherty, aged 19; Ciaran Sweeney, aged 19; PJ McLaughlin, aged 21; James McEleney, aged 23; Eamonn McDaid, aged 22, and Damien McLaughlin, aged 21, who all died. An eighth passenger (the driver) was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital
Letterkenny General Hospital
Letterkenny General Hospital is an acute hospital serving 147,000 inhabitants of County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. The hospital currently employs over 1700 people, with more than 565 of these being nursing staff . It contains around 360 beds at present.- History :The General Hospital...
. The car had five seat belts between the eight men and some corpses were retrieved outside the vehicle. The crash occurred near the home of one of those who died. The Toyota Corolla was occupied by one man, 66-year-old Hugh Friel. He was taken to the same hospital and died there. He had been driving home from Buncrana after participating in a bingo session there.
There was a delay in publishing the identities of those killed as some relatives were abroad, while others were at the Oxegen 2010
Oxegen 2010
Oxegen 2010 was the seventh Oxegen festival to take place since 2004. It took place on the weekend of Friday 9 July, Saturday, 10 July and Sunday, 11 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. Eminem, Muse and Arcade Fire headlined...
music festival in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
. A press conference was held at Buncrana Garda Station on 12 July during which the identities of the dead were made public. Alcohol was ruled out as a cause of the carnage. The R238 road was forensically examined, before being reopened on 13 July. Relatives inspected the crash scene and laid flowers before the road reopened. On 15 July, another appeal for witnesses was issued, though authorities also praised the "excellent co-operation" of members of the public.
The route where the crash took place is scheduled to receive speed cameras in October 2010.
Victims
The crash killed eight men.- Damien McLaughlin, aged 21
- Paul Doherty, aged 19
- Eamonn McDaid, aged 22
- Ciarán Sweeney, aged 19
- James McEleney, aged 23
- Mark McLaughlin, aged 21
- PJ "Mick" McLaughlin, aged 21
- Hugh Friel, aged 66
Response
Assistant Garda Commissioner Kieran Kenny described it as the worst crash scene he had witnessed in 34 years in the force. A curate who visited the hospital said he too had never experienced anything like it in his time in the priesthood, describing scenes of upset which not only included relatives but also hospital staff. He said a special Mass the following morning. Another priest said: "Somebody described it as a tsunami, rolling across Inishowen, overwhelming us all". Gardaí and fire service personnel were themselves reported to be "traumatised" at what they had witnessed and in need of counselling. One fireman said he had never seen anything like it in 32 years of service. A special helpline was established by the Health Service ExecutiveHealth Service Executive
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...
in the aftermath of the crash, while leaflets offering advice were distributed. Local people openly cried, described an "eerie" atmosphere, were hesitant while driving if another vehicle approached; work was affected. One man was heard to say that a friend living in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
was to return to Ireland but "He has changed his mind now because all his friends are dead".
Political response
TaoiseachTaoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
expressed shock at the "devastating news" and paid tribute from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Minister for Transport
Minister for Transport (Ireland)
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is the senior minister at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is Leo Varadkar, TD...
Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey
Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011...
praised the emergency services who assisted at the scene. Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
said it was "horrific" and called for an improvement in road safety education. Local Senator, Cecelia Keaveney, called it "an ordeal". Labour
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
transport spokesperson Joe Costello
Joe Costello (Irish politician)
Joe Costello is an Irish Labour Party politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Central constituency and is the Labour Party Spokesperson on Transport....
called it a "tragedy of immense proportions" and called for "tightening up the law". MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Pat the Cope Gallagher paid tribute and described "a dark cloud" over Inishowen.
Mayor of Buncrana/Deputy Mayor of Donegal Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said there was "mind numbing devastation" in the community. Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
Donegal North East
Donegal North East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Donegal North–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
Joe McHugh
Joe McHugh
Joe McHugh is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency since May 2007.-Background and personal life:...
called the crash a "nightmare", and "a terrible day for the county", suggesting that everyone in the area would have been familiar with at least one of those who died. Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
Donegal North East TD Jim McDaid
Jim McDaid
James "Jim" McDaid is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and medical doctor. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency from June 1989 until he resigned in November 2010.-Early life:...
also expressed sympathy. Fine Gael councillor John Ryan said: "I don't think I've ever come across anything of this magnitude or this level of carnage. It's unbelievable".
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
's deputy First Minister
First Minister and deputy First Minister
The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister , sometimes abbreviated to FM/DFM, are positions in the Northern Ireland...
Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
also paid tribute.
After the funerals, two council meetings were thought to be planning to talk about road safety and counselling. There was a call for the establishment of a co-ordinated response strategy for Inishowen.
Funerals
The funerals took place over a three-day period, attended by hundreds of people and each receiving extensive media coverage. On 14 July, the funerals of Hugh Friel, Mark McLaughlin and Patrick "PJ" McLaughlin took place. On 15 July, the funerals of Paul Doherty, Eamonn McDaid, Ciaran Sweeney and Damien McLaughlin took place. Paul Doherty was buried on his twentieth birthday. On 16 July, the final funeral, that of James McEleney, took place. By the time of the final funeral the survivor was not well enough to be interviewed; a long spell in hospital is expected with the possibility of surgery. It was revealed on 27 July that he had been informed of the deaths of his friends; he had woken from a coma but was sent to a hospital in Dublin for further treatment. On 10 November 2011, the driver was charged with dangerous driving causing eight deaths, with the defence saying his injuries meant he did not pose a "flight" risk.Further reading
- Jackson, George. "Families do not blame driver, says victim's uncle". The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. Wednesday, July 14, 2010. - Hand, Lise. "Joyous sounds of summer lost to a sorrow too great for words". Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
. Wednesday, July 14, 2010. - Duncan, Pamela. "Sweeney family say they do not blame driver". The Irish Times. Friday, July 16, 2010.
- Hand, Lise. "Talk of love and pride in lost sons lifts desolation". Irish Independent. Friday, July 16, 2010.
- Sheridan, Kathy. "Air of unreality as Inishowen mourners follow funeral trail". The Irish Times Front Page. Friday, July 16, 2010.
- Hand, Lise. "Sometimes it's the smallest things that break your heart". Irish Independent. Saturday, July 17, 2010.
- Meagher, John. "How can another tragedy like this be prevented?". Irish Independent. Saturday, July 17, 2010.
- Guidera, Anita. "How an ordinary night of fun came to a horrific end". Sunday IndependentSunday IndependentThe Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
. Sunday, July 18, 2010. - Mullally, Una. "Perhaps it is too raw and horrible to talk about it right now, but certain things about the Donegal crash need to be said...". Sunday TribuneSunday TribuneThe Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
. Sunday, July 18, 2010.