Taoiseach pays tribute to victims after horror night on Irish roads

Taoiseach Simon Harris has spoken of his grief after a night of horror on Ireland’s roads left four people dead.

The victims included a mother and her young daughter, an American tourist who was killed as he made his way to Dublin Airport to catch a flight back home and a supermarket worker who may have lain dead in his car for three days.

“I know I join with everybody in this house in sending our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died,” Mr Harris told the Dail as the full horror of the road carnage began to emerge.

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The deaths bring to 97 the number of people who have died on Ireland’s roads this year. Some 188 people lost their lives in crashes in all of 2023.

Mr Harris told TDs today that he wanted to send his sympathies to the victims.

He said: “Since we last met in the Dáil, four lives have been lost on our roads. Four lives in the last 24 hours.

“I know that communities in Mayo and Westmeath have been devastated by the news of this loss of life.

“I know I join with everybody in this house in sending our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died.

“This tragically brings the number of lives lost on Irish roads already this year to 97. But of course, no number can hide the reality in terms of personal tragedy and upset at the loss that the families and friends behind each of those numbers feel.

“I just wanted to really acknowledge that as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the dangers on our roads.”

Two of the victims, factory worker Marcin Nowosielski and Texas tourist Joe Marroquin died in separate incidents in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath on Tuesday and Wednesday.

And the Co Mayo village of Swinford was plunged into grief after the death of local woman Aisling Moore (46) and her eight-year-old daughter Abbigael in a crash on Tuesday evening.

They died in a fatal collision between a car and a lorry on Tuesday at around 5.45pm on the N26 in Lismoran, Foxford, Co Mayo.

Ms Moore was the driver of the car that collided with the lorry.

The driver of the lorry was taken to hospital with injuries understood to be non-life threatening.

The scene has been closed since Tuesday evening as Garda forensic teams conduct a technical examination.

Gardai are now appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Local scouts group Kiltimagh Scouts paid tribute to the mother and daughter, postponing an upcoming local event out of respect.

They said: “As a mark of respect following the tragic passing of Abbigael and Aisling Moore on Tuesday we are cancelling Wednesday evening’s planned open evening. May they both Rest in Peace.”

Mayo County Councillor for Foxford Neil Cruise said of the tragedy: “It’s heartbreak and devastation in this area with the news of a young mother and her daughter having been killed tragically in an accident.

“It has plunged the communities into deep sadness with this news. It’s terrible that a mother and her daughter would lose their lives so tragically at the one time. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to those communities and the family, the extended family and the friends of the mother and daughter who lost their lives.”

Fianna Fáil councillor for Swinford John Caulfield said the news breaking was “like a cloud fell over the town”.

Mr Caulfield told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that his “thoughts and prayers are with the family” and said people in town are “just silent this morning, in shock”.

He said: “You can only imagine the young child starting off the summer holidays with all the dreams of spending time with her parents, grandparents and days out, all cut short, never to be again.”

He added that Swinford is “a close community” and that “people will rally around the family following the tragedy”.

Meanwhile Councillor Joe Faughnan said: “There is a great sense of shock in the community as we await more details about the collision. It is just so sad and there is a dark cloud hanging over the area. All my thoughts and condolences are with the family affected by the tragedy. Every road death is one that we hope to avoid, and it is so sad for the family and a massive shock for all involved. The main thing is that everyone is thinking of the family and sending condolences. We live in a good community that will rally around and support the family at this difficult time.”

Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said weather conditions were good, but said that the stretch of road where the collision occurred has “a number of bends and is governed by double white lines”.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman said: “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were traveling on the N26 between Swinford and Foxford between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm on Tuesday evening are asked to provide this footage to Gardaí.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station at 096 20560, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”

Meanwhile, officers in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath are investigating two fatal crashes that were discovered within 24 hours of each other.

The first incident was notified to gardaí at 6.40pm on Tuesday in the townland of Teevrevagh, two kilometres south of the town.

Pals of missing factory worker Marcin Nowosielski, a 47-year-old who was originally from Poland but had lived in Castlepollard for 13 years found his car off the road.

He had not been seen for several days and concerned pals had started looking for him when they made the grim discovery.

He had last been seen in his black Nissan Almera with registration 02 CE 3568 in the early hours of Sunday morning – and investigators fear he may have been dead in his vehicle since then.

Gardaí tonight said it was unclear when the vehicle left the road.

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw the car or anyone who was in the Teevrevagh area between Sunday morning and Tuesday afternoon to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000.

Oliver Boylan, a friend of Mr Nowosielski and who was involved in the search for him has paid tribute to him.

He said: “Marcin was a single man living in Castlepollard/Collinstown area for the last 13 years, working first in a local petrol station and then in recent years in a local pallet factory where he was well-liked.

“He was a massive fan of his local polish team Rakow Czestochowa, Liverpool, and a proud Polish man who always supported the Polish national team.

“Marcin had many friends from around the area and loved socialising, playing pool and darts – he was a kind person and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”

Local councillor Alfie Devine said: “Marcin was well known in the town. He lived here a long time. He worked locally and had lots of friends locally.

“Everyone is very shocked.”

Meanwhile, less than 12 hours after that discovery, gardaí in Castlepollard also had to deal with another fatal road crash in Gartlandstown, some 10km south of the earlier fatality.

Sources confirmed that retired US police officer Joe L Marroquin, who was in his 80s and from Houston in Texas, died in a crash at 5.30am.

It’s understood his wife Kathy, who is in her 60s, was seriously injured when the car she was driving was in a collision with another vehicle.

The passenger and driver of that car, two men in their 20s and 30s , were also injured but not seriously.

They were taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, Co Westmeath for treatment.

Mrs Marroquin was being treated for her injuries at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Sources have revealed Mr and Mrs Marroquin had spent around a month with relatives in the Castlepollard area.

They were driving to Dublin Airport for a flight home when the accident happened.

Sources say they had intended to travel home on Tuesday morning, but their flight had been cancelled because of the Aer Lingus industrial dispute.

Speaking at the scene of the accident this evening, Garda press officer Superintendent Liam Geraghty said the force wished to extend its sympathies to all the victims’ loved ones.

And he appealed for people to slow down on the roads.

He said: “Recent incidents on our roads once again tragically illustrate the dangers that can affect any of us.

“No one sets out with the intention of causing or being involved in a traffic collision, especially one that results in fatalities. We often take using our roads as a routine activity, yet it remains the most hazardous task we engage in daily.

“An Garda Síochána extends its deepest sympathies to all families mourning the loss of loved ones due to road traffic collisions.

“An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all road users—no matter how you use the road—to exercise extreme caution and stay safe. In particular, we urge all drivers to please slow down and protect everyone on our roads.”