Ireland's road deaths spark safety call

Seven of the dead, from parishes across the Inishowen peninsula, were in a car which collided with another vehicle on a rural road before smashing into a third.

The driver of the third car was also killed. The 66-year-old unmarried man was going home after an evening's bingo.

All the men died at the scene.

The driver of the car carrying the eight people was yesterday in a critical but stable condition.

The crash happened at about 10.40pm on Sunday.

Assistant Garda commissioner Kieran Kenny said it was the worst road accident he has dealt with in his 34 years in the force.

"This is a very, very sad and tragic and stressful time and we will do what we can to get those people through the next few days," he said.

Traffic officers said eight young men were in the northern-registered black Volkswagen Passat saloon. It is believed to have collided with a Donegal-registered white Renault Megane hatchback before the driver lost control.