Thirteen dead on Tipp roads in 2019

Tipperary had the third-highest number of road deaths in the State in 2019 with 13 fatalities recorded in road traffic collisions across the county.

In line with the national trend, the number of road deaths in Tipperary increased last year, up from 11 in 2018.

Two of last year's deaths occured in the Nenagh district; one involving a man in his 20s between Portroe and Garrykennedy last June, the other a man in his 30s who died in an accident outside Puckane in October.

The new year has already brought tragedy close to home with 85-year-old John Hoolan of Dunkerrin dying in an accident on the Roscrea-Shinrone road at Mountheaton, Co Offaly, on Thursday last, January 2nd. It is understood that Mr Hoolan, a retired farmer, was walking when he was struck by a car driven by a male at around 6pm.

A total of 148 people died on Ireland’s roads in 2019 as a result of 137 fatal crashes, compared to 142 lives lost in 135 fatal crashes the previous year. This represents a four per cent increase on the number of deaths recorded in 2018, which was the safest year recorded on Ireland's roads. Dublin and Cork had the highest numbers of fatalities for all road users in 2019, at 19 and 16 respectively.

Senior gardaí in Tipperary have expressed concern over the number of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Garda checkpoints were stepped up over the Christmas period and 11 arrests were made countywide in relation to drink or drug driving.

In the Nenagh Garda District, four people were arrested on suspicion of drink driving between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, all of them males. Two arrests were made at Stafford St in Nenagh town in separate incidents on December 26th and 28th.

Gardaí arrested another male on suspicion of drink driving following a traffic incident in Cloughjordan on December 26th. The fourth arrest in relation to drink driving was made at Kenyon St, Nenagh, at 1.20am on January 1st.