Tributes have been paid to two competitors who were killed during a motor rally in Co Sligo on Sunday.
The men have been named as Gene McDonald, aged 35 from Co Cavan, and Daire Maguire, aged 46 from Co Fermanagh.
The driver and co-driver were killed after their car crashed into a wall at the sixth stage of the Sligo States Rally on Sunday afternoon, shortly after 3pm.
Organisers of the event, Connacht Motor Club, halted the event and a serious incident protocol was activated.
Motorsport Ireland said it would carry out a full investigation into the double tragedy, alongside the Garda investigation.
Motorsport Ireland Statement issued at 10.30 on July 17th 2023 confirming the names of the competitors who tragically lost their lives in an accident on yesterday’s Sligo Stages Rally pic.twitter.com/jbSppIYPE1
— Motorsport Ireland (@MotorsportIRL) July 17, 2023
Motorsport Ireland has extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the two competitors.
Its sporting manager Art McCarrick said that competitor safety was at the forefront of their operations, but that fatal accidents can happen in any sport.
“It’s a very difficult and dark day for our sport,” he told RTE’s Morning Ireland.
He said that they weren’t sure if road conditions was a factor, but said there was “a full running of that stage previously without any incident” as part of the third stage.
“They were both experienced competitors. The driver had over 15 years’ experience and the co-driver had over 20 years’ experience. And both regular competitors in the border, midland and west region and well-respected.”
Gardai are appealing for images or videos of the incident to be removed from social media or made available to the authorities, and asked that people refrain from sharing any images or videos of the incident on messaging apps.
