TD cites east Mayo tragedy in seeking urgent rail crossing safety reforms

A Mayo TD has cited the tragic death on September 3 last of 12-year-old Ballyhaunis boy Eoin Doyle in a rail crossing collision in seeking ministerial action to end user-operated level crossings, to be replaced by automated barriers.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Lawless said: "Over the summer there was a major tragedy near my hometown where 12-year-old Eoin Doyle was killed after a train struck the car in which he was travelling.

"It is incredibly sad, and our community is still reeling at home from this loss. Eoin was a wonderful young boy. A talented Gaelic player, soccer, golf and athletics. He just had the opportunity to meet Sam McGuire and the Mayo team in the days before his passing.

"I have spoken to his family - and their wish is that no other family has to go through the devastating loss.

"I am aware of the crossing where this incident took place. It's very rudimentary. And visibility is very poor. We can’t allow this incident to pass without some sort of action being taken.

"We need to seriously improve standards and safety to ensure tragedies like this don’t ever happen again".

"There are hundreds of car parks across the country - with automated barriers. There are hundreds of apartment complexes - with automated barriers.

"The technology is available. And widely used across the country. The current system we have - where people open and close gates themselves - if there even is a gate - must come to an end.

"This goes above politics. We need to work together constructively with everyone concerned here and ensure that lessons are learned from this horrific tragedy and that no family goes through this awful grief ever again," added Lawless.