Five die in 'horrific' road crash

The wreckage of one of the cars

The scene of a crash in County Armagh which claimed the lives of five people was utter devastation, a senior firefighter has said.

The accident happened on the Dublin Road, south of Newry, at about 0130 BST on Monday.

Edward Collins, 26, and his 25-year-old sister Claire from Meigh in south Armagh, were killed in one of the cars involved in the accident.

In the other car were Margaret McArdle, 60, and her 26-year-old daughter Sioban. Both lived in Annaclone, near Banbridge. Margaret McArdle's sister-in-law, Rita Haughey from Rathfriland, was also killed.

The three were on their way home from the Special Olympics closing ceremony in Dublin.

It was one of the most serious incidents that I personally have had the displeasure to attend

Brian McGuigan
Fire officer

Brian McGuigan of the Fire Service said it was a horrific scene.

"The two cars were barely recognisable," he said. "The five occupants were all heavily trapped.

"It was one of the most serious incidents that I personally have had the displeasure to attend."

Witnesses needed

A cousin of Mrs McArdle, Father Tom McConville, said the family was devasted.

He said: "Nobody can believe this has happened."

The Dublin Road was closed between the Drumalane Road and the Forkhill Road for most of Monday.

Police in Newry are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them.

The deaths bring the total number of people who have died on Northern Ireland's roads this year to 82.

In a separate incident about an hour later, a fireman was knocked down at the scene of the crash when a car failed to stop at a diversion point set up by police.

He was carried on the bonnet of the car for some distance before falling onto the road.

The car was later found a short distance away at Drumliska Gardens.

The fireman sustained a leg injury and was discharged after treatment in hospital.

On Saturday, two men from the Republic of Ireland were killed in a road accident in County Fermanagh.

The victims, who were both 20, were in a car that was in collision with a van on the main Enniskillen to Kesh Road.