We cannot tolerate this level of slaughter on the A5 any longer

I would express our most sincere sympathy and condolences to their families and friends.

No more evidence should be needed that the current A5 is not fit for purpose.

The catastrophic mix of traffic on this road, which was designed for a bygone era, is resulting in an accident and death-rate that can only be described as grotesque.

The ongoing carnage is devastating families and communities in this locale.

Our group met with Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd in March and we implored him to give the project the go-ahead.

We warned that further delay will result in further deaths.

Again, we reiterate this plea to the Minister and DfI — the people of this area cannot tolerate this level of slaughter on this road any longer.

We beg you to deliver on the promise of July 2007 when the scheme was first given the go-ahead. There is a palpable sense of shock and horror in this community today as two more deaths are announced just three weeks after the previous fatality, Oonagh Burns and, two weeks prior to that, the death of Caolan Devlin.

The local community are terrified to see family members go out on journeys on the A5, given the ever-increasing number of fatalities, but it is impossible to traverse this region without being forced to use it.

The local people have made their feelings clear at our events and at the public inquiry in Omagh.

Anyone in attendance would have been heartbroken to hear the testimony of families of A5 road victims.

The campaign to deliver the new A5 is now predominantly accepted and we believe that the Minister is acutely cognisant of the human cost of not proceeding with it.

So our message is simple and clear; proceed with the new road and save lives.

Niall McKenna is chair of the A5 Enough is Enough campaign group