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A 28-YEAR-OLD man was killed in a car crash in Cork this morning.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the incident that occurred at Muckridge in Youghal at about 7.15am.
The victim has been named locally as Tony Dineen. He was the driver and sole occupant of the car which hit a bridge on the road. He was airlifted from the scene by a Coast Guard helicopter but he was pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital a short time later.
A dedicated member of Eire Óg GAA club, the 28-year-old is mourned by his family, friends and team mates.
“He has been one of our greatest servants,” said vice chairman Diarmuid Kirwan. “We are all in shock.
“It is a huge loss to the club. To his family. He was such a dedicated hurler and footballer who played with us for 20 odd years.”
Describing the young man, he added: “You could always depend on him. Even if he had an injury. Tony was a lovely, quiet, unassuming and friendly chap. He’d never have a bad word about anyone. He is just a huge loss.”
A post mortem examination on his body is due to take place today. He is the 181st person to die on Irish roads this year. Gardaí have asked anyone with information to call them at the local station on 021 462 1550 or the confidential line on 1800 666 111.
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Another lost soul on our roads at the worst possible time of year. Thoughts are with his family and the families of all who have lost someone or and to anyone who’s lives have been changed due to a road accident.
Slow down and be careful over Xmas. Too many lives lost on our roads.
We are only humans. There will always be plenty of people who will have a primitive desire to drive fast, overtake cars and who will start behaving like baboons if someone drives faster than them and overtakes them.
Exactly right. Saw 3 crashes yesterday. People here are so used to the wet they don’t understand that high winds and heavy rain are worse than ice. Still saw a lot of people driving like lunatics. Saw a guy clear 3 lanes of traffic airborne after coming from the other side of the motorway in rain once, been careful ever since.
I know nothing about what happened in this situation, but as person who drives 60,000 km a year, I can comment about the increase in deaths on the roads this year. Irish people (of which I am one), cannot drive, neither in normal conditions, not to mind difficult ones. Put a camera on my dash board for one week and I will have enough footage for a small documentary to prove my point. The amount of near misses I see is unreal and I am talking about serious ones e.g. head ons where cars have to move into the hard shoulder to avoid an uncoming car that has illegally over taken me and maybe two more cars. Second, the Traffic Corps are useless as is the government policies on reducing road deaths. The policy is ‘shooing fish in a barrel’ (checkpoints/speed vans) and is a money generating exercise. RIP to that poor man but as we know there will be more over X-mass.
@neil. The traffic corps has seen a drastic drop in numbers and vehicles in the past few years. Much of its time is spent supplementing regular gardai etc rather than enforcing the road traffic act. So saying they are useless is an exaggeration. It’s not a coincidence that the increased road deaths has coincided with the drop in garda numbers.
Well said Alan.
Sorry Alan, unless you spend as much time on the roads of East Munster, North Tipperary, East Lenister, I will disagree with you. if you have, then my experience is my own and obviously not common place. I have never seen so many checkpoints as I have in last 4 to 8 weeks, garda with speed cameras also (hiding as usual), and the best one has to be the speed vans parked in areas where no accidents take place, why, because that’s the only place they can park e.g. near Cobh Golf Club every Sunday morning in the hope of catching some lads or lassies heading off to play a few holes. My primary wish is to see the situation improve and see less lives taken, not call the traffic garda units useless. I will list 10 ‘shooting fish is a barrel’ garda checkpoints for you if you wish. Pure and utter money making rackets. For now my original points remain.
@neil. I’m familiar with all these areas, cover about 1000km a week myself. Live and work in that region. Speed vans operated by a private company. As for your fish in a barrel argument if your caught its an €80 fine. Unlikely you’ll risk speeding again if you’ve common sense so if you follow the set speed limits you’ve nothing to fear. Absolute non argument.
@neil. And as for garda checkpoints extra emphasis is put on at this time of year as a result of the greater risk on the roads. You can be sure other areas I.e. community policing etc is sacrificed for more presence and visibility on our roads.
Just to reply to all the comments here about how people drive on the roads. I knew Tony. He was on the road constantly as part of his job. Please don’t make assumptions about his driving habits. Ye know nothing about it. A lovely guy who had it all to live for. A huge loss to his family, friends and his girlfriend. RIP Tony. You will be sorely missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Well said. The missus is from ovens/farran direction. Eire og abu
Connor – are you insinuating that poor lad was speeding?
Well said.no one should make assumptions about this.anything could have happened. The weather was appalling – the wind, rain, thunder and lightening was severe around youghal then. I did not know the guy but my thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend and family.RIP Tony.
RIP. My prayers are with his family. May God help them get through Christmas.
Drove the n25 near dungarvan at that time this morning and it was treacherous. Very talented hurler. Condolences to his family and friends. Rip
A thorough gent . Will be sadly missed by his family ,team mates and all that had the pleasure of knowing him
TRAGIC LOST FOR HIS PARTNER TRISH AND HIS PARENTS MUM PAULY .DADTIM BROTHER TOMMY AND UNCLES GERRY .TOM .PAT.AND ESPECIALLY BRIAN AND AUNTY CARMEL..TONY YOU WERE A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING AND IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE YOUR UNCLE. REST IN PEACE
YOUR DEAR UNCLE AND FRIEND WHO WILL MISS YOU A LOT
BRIAN
Rest in Peace Tony.. heart is broken for your friends and family. God rest your soul.
Tony was a wonderful young man. I worked and travelled all over Ireland with him. He was such a steady careful driver. What a pleasant man, honest to God, salt of the earth, great fun, always. God help his family and his girlfriend. What a clever unassuming man. He wrote probably one of the best publications ever on his pet subject on energy savings in houses. He was so thorough in everything he did. Completely shocked as only heard of his passing yesterday. Tony was one of the most talented practical young engineers, and such great company. It was a pleasure and an honour to have known him.
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