Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

The ongoing scale of death as a result of road traffic accidents in rural Ireland was again brought home to us in the past week with a number of tragedies around the country. Hardly a week goes by in rural Ireland in which there is not a fatal accident on a secondary road. While there are many factors involved, I raise this matter to draw attention to the need for clear road markings and signage as I am aware of a number of cases in which these have been factors in road deaths.

I wish to read into the record a letter I received from a family bereaved as a result of such a tragedy:

On the 22/4/06 our daughter Eileen Keane and boyfriend Trevor Chute were in a fatal accident at Ardoughter, Ballyduff, Tralee, Co. Kerry. There was no signage or road markings at this junction.

This accident was investigated by . . . PSV inspector at Tralee Garda Station and [an official from] "Kerry Co Council". The inquest was to be heard on 20 October 2006 but was cancelled while a file was sent to the DPP. [There was another vehicle involved.]

The night before Eileen's inquest our liaison officer [at Tralee Garda Station] explained procedures to take place on the 2 Feb 2007. We were led to believe that the investigating officer . . . would be present. His findings nor [those of the Kerry County Council official] who both witnessed the scene were not read out.

[The Kerry County Council official] was at the scene at approx 10.40 pm. The Garda never informed us of our tragic loss which took place at approx 9.40 pm. We got a text from our daughter Marion that there had been a crash. This was confirmed at 11.00 pm. [when we contacted Listowel Garda Station and found out that our daughter Eileen was dead along with her boyfriend Trevor].

Some period after the inquest and tragic loss of Eileen we went looking for answers. We were seeking transparency and accountability. We have wrote numerous correspondence to Kerry Co Council [and] each time our requests have been refused. We have also written to other Government bodies that refer us back to Kerry Co. Council (still no answers).

The parents have aired some of their views, and those of their family, on local radio and in the local papers. They said it is like being in a maze with no way out and that they are still looking for closure and would be grateful for any little help on this long, lonely and never-ending road. The letter was signed by Richard and Kay Keane.

A number of years ago I dealt with a similar case in County Mayo. Again, it took years before there was a resolution, or the family in question got justice. It is vital that road signage and markings are laid out clearly, especially on the more dangerous roads where vehicles are likely to travel at higher speeds, despite the roads on which they are travelling, and where there is a more than the usual number of hazards. It is also important that the relevant authorities take responsibility for the maintenance of roads and road markings as, unfortunately, this has been a matter of dispute in certain cases.

People who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances, such as the parents who wrote the above letter, are entitled to answers. Unfortunately, because of bureaucracy and what would appear to be non-activity by the local authorities and Government bodies, there has been a passing of the buck from one to the other. People need answers and they are entitled to them. They have lost loved ones and they continue to grieve.

The father and mother who wrote the letter to which I have referred say they are looking for closure on this long, lonely and never-ending road and that it is like being in a maze. Their situation can be replicated throughout the country where people have lost loved ones on lonely country roads on which there is a lack of signage and proper markings for which nobody is prepared to take responsibility.

See this speech in context