Tragic week on local roads as two men killed in separate collisions

Two men lost their lives in separate collisions on Meath roads over the past week.

A motorcyclist in his fifties was killed when a car was in collision with his motorcycle at Ross Cross, Tara, on Sunday evening, while a 70-year-old man died in a single vehicle crash at Prioryland, Duleek, last Thursday night.

The victim of Sunday evening's collision has been named as Francis 'Fran' Brady, Ardlo Manor, Mullagh, and late of Clondalkin.

It is understood he was travelling in the direction of Navan when the motorcycle he was travelling on was in collision with a car on the R147 at Ross Cross around 6.15pm.

The occupants of the car, a male driver who was in his twenties, and a male and female passenger were uninjured. It is understood the car was coming from the Dunsany direction towards Ross Cross when the collision occured.

According to his death notice, Fran was much loved husband of Rachel and father of Conor and Ella. He is survived also by his mother Bridget, his brothers Paddy and David; sisters, Esther, Teresa and Caroline; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law; mother-in-law Esther McCrann; nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Meanwhile, the victim of Thursday night's single vehicle fatal collison in Duleek, Patrick McCabe (70) will be laid to rest today. Mr McCabe was the front seat passenger in the car. It is understood that the two other male occupants- the driver and a rear seat passenger- were taken to hospital as a precaution but were not injured.

The deceased, formerly of Longwood and Cadamstown, Co Kildare, had been living in Duleek.

He is survived by family, Lorraine, Jan, Carmel, Orla, Glenda, Alan and Teresa, brothers Michael and Gerard, sister Ann, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Mr McCabe's funeral mass will take place on Thursday (1st June) at 11am in St Mary's Church, Broadford, Co Kildare, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Inspector Peter Gilsenan of the Meath Roads Policing Unit is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "It was a bad week on our roads with two collisions which resulted in the loss of two lives and we send our sympathies to both men's families.

"We are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collisions or were in the area at the time or just before to come forward.

“We are particularly appealing to those with dashcams who travelling in the area at the time to make it available to Gardai."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda station on 01 801 0600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

The two fatal traffic accidents bring to six the number of people who have died on Meath roads so far this year. Three of the six fatal collisions occured in the past month.

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