German couple killed in motorcycle accident

Carnage on Mayo’s roads as German motorcyclists die


Áine Ryan
aineryan@mayonews.ie

TRAGEDY struck more than once over the weekend on Mayo’s minor roads with the death of two German motorcyclists near Lacken Cross on Friday last and the critical injury of a mother of two young teenagers on Sunday afternoon near Foxford. 
The German couple, Isolde and Otto Nagele, from Bissingen, were in their early 50s and believed to be  parents. They were killed last Friday afternoon on the winding road between Ballycastle and Killala after their motorbike collided with a car driven by local family doctor, Dr Declan Clinton. A garda spokeswoman confirmed to The Mayo News yesterday that their bodies are due to be repatriated in the coming days.
The accident occurred about one hundred yards south of Massey’s Bend at around 12.20pm. The male biker died at the scene while his pillion passenger died shortly afterwards en route by ambulance to Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.
Reportedly, Dr Clinton, who is a GP in Ballycastle, only incurred minor injuries and has since been released from hospital.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, local Fine Gael Councillor, Jarlath Munnelly, confirmed the accident happened beyond the bend, which has rumble strips and signs.
“This is such a tragedy. A couple on a holiday that culminates in a double fatality. It is so sad they are now being returned home in coffins,” Cllr Munnelly said.      
A local man David Massey told The Irish Times that three ambulances, a fire brigade and gardaí had attended at the scene and were helped out by locals. Mr Massey said there had been a double fatality at the nearby bend about 15 years ago but remedial works, referred to by Cllr Munnelly, had been carried out on the stretch of road in the interim.
Meanwhile, a mother of two young teenagers was seriously injured in a head-on collision on a straight stretch of road, two miles from Foxford, on the Swinford Road, on Sunday afternoon. She was removed to the intensive care unit of Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.
The Mayo News understands that the 42-year-old woman from Sligo had earlier met with friends for coffee in Foxford. One of these women was driving behind her when the accident occurred. The driver of the other car, who did not sustain serious injuries, is a local farmer and construction worker who is in his late 50s.

HAVE YOUR SAY email aineryan@mayonews.ie with your comments