RENEWED calls have been made for road safety measures in St Johnston following a fatal collision which claimed the lives of two teenagers.
Councillor Gary Doherty asked at the outset of Tuesday’s Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District meeting if he could include an emergency motion, seeking that the council address immediate safety measures on the R236 in the wake of the tragedy.
Daniel Cullen and Caoimhin Porter-McLoone, both aged 18, and both from Derry, died when the car they were in struck a lorry on the R236 in the village at 11.15pm on Tuesday night of last week.
The driver of the car was brought to Altnagelvin Hospital with serious injuries and later brought to Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Cllr Frank McBrearty jnr questioned whether Cllr Doherty’s motion could be included at such a late hour, given particular protocols for tabling motions.
While the motion did not proceed, Cllr Doherty read it into the meeting, which prompted much discussion from fellow councillors.
“Locals in the village of St Johnston are all asking the same question – how many more times will there be collisions at that point before we solve the road safety hazard?”
Cllr Patrick McGowan agreed with the sentiment, stressing that proper road safety measures must be addressed.
In 2024, the then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris directed all uniform gardaí would conduct 30 minutes of road safety activity per shift. Cllr McGowan queried if this was now the case, adding: “Go Safe vans are in the same place all the time.”
Foundation works have commenced on 30 properties in phase 3 of the Cois Abhainn development in St Johnston. Cllr McBrearty said the construction was taking place on a corner where the two fatalities occurred. He said there has been no collaboration between planners, roads and housing.
“Road design must be put on notice to design a proper concept for that road, as well as (addressing) lighting issues.
“When is the next fatality going to happen? It is not good enough.”
Responding, Area Roads Manager, Claire McKeever said everyone’s thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who were killed in the collision, adding that it was not appropriate at this time to comment further in relation to the matter.
Cllr McBrearty spoke of other road safety issues in Raphoe and Convoy. He asked the chairman to comment on the matter, given the issue of an eventual increased volume of traffic because of the new housing development in St Johnston.
“The public are accusing us of not raising safety issues. I am blue in the face trying to get these issues addressed. All of the roads I have mentioned today have all had fatal road traffic collisions and nothing is being done by road designcouncil to address this,” he said.
Chairman Cllr Martin Harley acknowledged that there is agreement that more needs to be done in terms of road safety. He said he knew all too well of the devastation brought by road traffic collisions. Cllr Harley’s daughter, Kym (19), died in a road traffic collision in 2014.
“The issues will be brought up again with planning,” he said.
Cllr Doherty will raise the motion in full at the next meeting.
Elsewhere, an online petition was launched within days of the tragedy, calling for the provision of new signage and speed ramp on the R236 into St Johnston.
The petition organiser, Donna Marie Reynolds, said the road has been a serious concern due to numerous collisions.
Ms Reynolds said the stretch of road, particularly the bend just before Harkin’s Petrol Station, poses serious safety risks that need immediate attention for the sake of all who use it.
Meanwhile, road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area of the collision between 10.45pm and 11.45pm on Tuesday, February 24, are asked to make the footage available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on (074) 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
