Communities across the country have been left devastated after eight people were killed on Irish roads over the past ten days.
Three drivers, three motorcyclists, a passenger and a pedestrian sadly all lost their lives in fatal road traffic accidents.
These fatalities and the further Road Death on Thursday bring the total number of people killed on Irish roads in 2022 to 79, an increase of 32 compared to date in 2021 and an increase of 15 road fatalities compared to 2019.
READ MORE: Relative of biker killed in M50 Dublin crash saw sick videos before realising it was him
Gardai have urged road users to drive carefully, slow down, never drive whilst tired and never drive under the influence.
Families have been left heartbroken as they grieve the deaths of their loved ones.
Speaking near the Navan Road in Dublin, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said: “We see first hand the impact because it’s all Garda members who are going to that person’s door.
“Never underestimate the impact that has on those families.
“It leaves people devastated.”
Paul Ingram and Brian McFarlane
Paul Ingram, a widower from Moulton in Northampton and Brian McFarlane, with an address in the Oxford village of Sutton Courtenay, were killed in a horrific accident last Friday.
The pair were involved in a freak accident as they rode along the M50 on the outskirts of Dublin.
Both men were on Harley Davison motorbikes when they accidentally collided with each other – and fell onto the carriageway.
Then, as they lay helpless on the road, a truck that was travelling behind the pair had no chance to avoid the friends and slammed into them.
Both men suffered horrendous injuries and were killed instantly.
Gillian Daly
The funeral of a mother-of-two who died after the car she was in plunged into a Cork river with her two young sons in the back has heard how she was an "exceptionally loyal and true friend" with a heart of gold.
Primary school teacher Gillian Daly, 44, died when she was unable to escape after her car reversed into the River Lee at Kennedy Quay in Cork at around 8.45pm last Friday night.
Her sons Evan and Luke, aged ten and 12, were passengers in the car but managed to free themselves before it sank, and bystanders pulled the boys to safety.
In an emotional and moving eulogy, Gillian's brother Jason told mourners she had "a heart of gold who lived for her sons and was always caring and worrying about them."
Luke Buckley
Luke Buckley sadly passed away after a road collision over the bank holiday weekend.
The young man from Friarstown, Grange, Co Limerick was described as a "handsome, funny and friendly young man".
The fatal collision occurred just outside Ballyneety village at around 12.30am on Monday.
Luke, in his 20s, died just 6km from his family home after the car he was driving left the R512 road near a sharp bend and collided with a wall at The Cat's Cradle bar.
Gardai said no other car was involved, and no one else was in his car at the time.
Michael and Bashir Hemani
Michael and Bashir Hemani were tragically killed in a three-car collision in Sligo over the weekend.
The brothers were fatally injured in the road traffic accident that occurred on the N15 in Rathcormack, Co. Sligo, at approximately 5.20pm on Sunday.
Michael (Masud) lived in the townland of Barroe between Tubbercurry and Collooney in Sligo, while Bashir had an address in Manchester.
They are survived by their brother Mino (Amin) and sisters Shahida and Hamida, while Michael will be "sadly missed" by his daughter Emma and her mum Ann Marie.
Ollie Heslin
Ollie Heslin was tragically killed in a road traffic accident last weekend.
The father-of-three, from Castleroe, Maganey in Kildare, had been taking part in a charity motorcycle run last Saturday for Carlow’s Holy Angels Day Care Centre for children with special needs when a car collided with his bike outside Kilkenny city.
A man has since appeared in court charged with dangerous driving after the 42-year-old’s death.
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