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Three Co Donegal woman killed in border car crash named

Rachel Battles, Mairead Mundy and Margaret McGonigle died in the crash
Rachel Battles, Mairead Mundy and Margaret McGonigle died in the crash Rachel Battles, Mairead Mundy and Margaret McGonigle died in the crash

THE three women killed in a three-car collision on the border early yesterday were a mother, daughter and family friend from Co Donegal.

Margaret McGonagle (69), her daughter Mairead Mundy (39) and Rachel Battles (37) died in the devastating crash near the Aclint


Bridge close to Ardee, Co Louth at around 1am.

All three victims were from the Bruckless area in south-west Donegal and had been on their way home from Dublin airport following a family holiday in Turkey.

A six-year-old girl, one of Mrs Battles’ four children, was seriously injured and taken to hospital in Dublin.

A 31-year-old man was also seriously injured and was being treated in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

It is understood the three women who died and one of the people injured were travelling in the same car, which was being driven by Mrs Mundy.

A man driving a third car involved in the collision was uninjured.

The N2 – the main road from Dublin to Derry and Donegal – was closed between Ardee and Aclint Bridge for most of yesterday to allow for an examination of the scene by forensic collision investigators.

Garda superintendent Fergus Treanor appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

“An ambulance that was travelling on the road came upon the accident and they were able to assist at the scene,” he said.

“The road was wet but it wasn’t raining at the time of the accident. Later, weather conditions deteriorated horrendously with very heavy rain at the scene.

“If there is somebody out there who feels that they have something to offer, we would appreciate it if they could contact us at Ardee Garda station.”

Ardee Fine Gael councillor Dolores Minogue said the crash was a “terrible tragedy”.

“The hearts of the community go out today to their relatives at this sad time,” she said.

“The N2 in this region is a ruthless road. I have been leading a campaign to get more filter lanes on the road in these areas.

“There have been several very serious road accidents along the N2.”

In January, cousins Josie Duff (79) and Kathy McDonald (70) were killed when they were hit by a car after getting off a bus on the road.

Sinn Féin councillor for Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Noel Keelan said there has been a significant increase in traffic on the N2 in recent years and described the road as a “death trap”.

“We’re hitting about 10,000-11,000 cars per day. The potential for head-on collisions are dramatically increased when that volume of traffic and the fact that there’s no centre island like on a motorway,” he told The Irish Times.

“We’re calling on the government and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to get funding in place to upgrade the entire N2 from when you leave the motorway at Ardee, through Monaghan and into the north.

“This is a major link to the north and the north west. It’s the missing link that hasn’t been upgraded. It’s the only way we are going to reduce fatalities on the N2.”

Gardaí appealed for witnesses to the latest crash to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041 6871130, or anonymously on 1 800 666 111.