Tragic death on Limerick to Cork road puts spotlight on safety in north Cork town
THERE are calls for “urgent” road safety measures following the tragic death of a pedestrian in Charleville - the second fatality of its kind in a fortnight and the eighth of its kind in a decade on “just 600 metres” of that same street.
Margaret Lyons, 72, died after being struck by a lorry on the town's main street at approximately 3:45pm on Monday. The mother-of-four who was from Smiths Road in Charleville was pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking of the tragedy, Chair of Charleville Community Forum, Evelyn O’Keeffe, said: “It’s terrible. A lot of people are devastated again today.”
A public meeting regarding pedestrian safety in the town has been called to take place at Charleville Park Hotel, on Wednesday, May 31.
Just last month, on April 28, Pat Galvin of Newtownshandrum lost his life in a collision involving a lorry on the town's main thoroughfare.
Last month, Ms O’Keeffe submitted a series of questions to the body responsible for the N20 roadway - which includes Charleville's main street - after the death of the elderly man.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Ms O'Keeffe said: “It was only yesterday (Monday) in the county council office that Ian (Cllr Ian Doyle) brought up the topic of the road. I’d say within an hour or two of him even bringing it up, another person was dead,” she stated, in relation to the tragic death of Margaret Lyons.
Over the last 10 years, eight people have died on “just 600 metres of the main street” Ms O'Keeffe pointed out.
Only a couple of hours before Monday's tragic incident, Cork councillors had called for a relief road to take HGVs away from the centre of the town, which is a popular shopping and social destination for people across south Limerick.
Fianna Fáil councillor, Ian Doyle, said urgent action was needed to prevent any more deaths.
“I had a motion in Cork County Council. We would upgrade the pedestrian crossings on the N20 in the main street in Charleville. And the motion would put tabletop ramps in the five pedestrian crossings. We would upgrade the lighting and upgrade speed signage on the entrance of the town, that would decrease the speed.”
Cllr Doyle stressed that “unfortunately, there are 15,000” vehicles going through Charleville on a daily basis, and that “traffic is a huge problem.”
Cllr Doyle hopes that the motion will allow for change.
“It needs to be done with urgency, and sooner rather than later. Hopefully, with a motion passed in Cork County Council now to upgrade those things ...then get on to TII for funding. It needs to be done with urgency, and sooner rather than later,” he emphasised.
Cllr Doyle offered his sympathies to Margaret's family, whom he knew well.
Margaret leaves behind her husband, Seamus, three daughters and a son. She was well known in the area and worked for years with The Holy Family School, Cootehill. She was also popular on the green at Charleville Golf Club.
Her funeral will take place at Holy Cross Church in Charleville on Saturday afternoon.
As gardaí are still investigating Margaret’s death, they have appealed for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage and were travelling in the main street area of Charleville between 3.30pm and 4pm on Monday are asked to make the footage available - including dash cam footage. Contact Mallow garda station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.