Road safety group to ramp up campaign as Cork man killed in city collision named locally
Paul Harrington is the second motorcyclist to die in Cork in as many days after a man died in a collision in Toureenfineen on Wednesday.
Picture: RIP.ie
A community which warned just two weeks ago of more road deaths in their area has vowed to ramp up their campaign for road safety upgrades following the death of a young motorcyclist.
Joan Lewis, chairperson of the Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association, said the entire community is devastated following Tuesday’s fatal road traffic collision near White's Cross, just north of Cork City — the 10th fatality on roads in that area in a decade.
The latest victim, named locally as Paul Harrington, in his mid-20s, died when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a van at Ballinahina, just before 6pm on Tuesday.
He is the second motorcyclist to die in Cork in as many days after a man died in a collision in Toureenfineen on Wednesday.
Tuesday's crash occurred just two weeks after a delegation of residents from the wider White's Cross area presented a petition to Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy, calling for the delivery of long-awaited road safety measures in the area.
They said residents in Kilcully, Dublin Hill, Ballincrokig, Whitechurch Rd, Carrignavar, and Ballinahina Rd are living in constant fear of high-speed traffic, with inadequate lighting and footpaths in the fast-growing area.
“We cannot wait any longer while lives are at risk.
"We refuse to let more lives be lost or forever changed due to negligence or delay from our city council.
"It's time they prioritised our safety over bureaucratic red tape,” the residents said at the time.
In the wake of Tuesday's tragedy, Ms Lewis said residents plan to ramp up their campaign.
“Why are they ignoring us? Why are we being pushed back all the time? We are less than 4km from St Patrick’s St but we have no traffic calming, no pedestrian crossings, and no bus service,” she said.
Local independent councillor Ken O’Flynn said the residents have been failed miserably.
“The residents have been handed empty promises and ineffective band-aid solutions when what is truly required are comprehensive measures to address the longstanding safety issues on our roads,” he said.
“The recent loss of life should serve as a wakeup call to the city manager and her team.
“They should hang their heads in shame for their failure to act decisively and prevent yet another needless tragedy in our community.”
Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said councillors for the area agreed on Monday to prioritise traffic calming in Kilcully.
“That was for immediate measures following disappointment in the community at the pace of progressing a significant pedestrian safety plan for the area,” he said.
“Tragically, that's too late for this young man and his family.
"Nothing will ever bring back his life.
"Those works now have to go ahead urgently.
“We have to prevent these serious incidents from happening again and again in this area.”
