A crash on the road between Buncrana and Clonmany in Co. Donegal last night claimed the lives of eight men. A Volkswagen Passat carrying eight men in their late teens and early 20s collided with a Toyota Corolla driven by a man in his 60s. He and the seven passengers in the other car were killed, while the driver of the Passat is in Letterkenny Hospital with serious injuries.

It is reported that the Passat had been involved in a minor collision shortly before the accident. The road between Buncrana and Clonmany is expected to remain closed for some time.

The dead have been named as Hugh Friel (66) from Dunaff who was driving the Corolla; Paul Doherty (19), Ballyliffin; Éamonn McDaid (22)  Buncrana; James McEleney (23), Clonmany; Damian McLaughlin (21), Buncrana; Mark McLaughlin (21), Fahan; Patrick 'P.J.' McLaughlin, Tooban  Burnfoot; and Ciaran Sweeney (19), Ballyliffin.

Orange Order on the march today

Annual Orange Order parades are taking place at 18 locations in the North today and, as happened last year, shops will remain open in Belfast to underline the potential tourism aspect of the demonstrations. Tension is expected in Ardoyne where the parade route touches an interface, and violence erupted last night when a PSNI officer was shot, though not seriously injured, and two others had to receive medical attention.

Seán FitzPatrick declared bankrupt

As expected, former Anglo Irish Bank chief Seán FitzPatrick was today declared bankrupt by the High Court at his own request. Mr FitzPatrick, who at one stage was CEO of the bank and  later chairman, had proposed a private scheme to deal with his debts of some €150m, claiming that this would produce a better outcome for all than the bankruptcy route. When it became clear that the bank would not accept any proposals put forward by him he filed for bankruptcy. Anglo, from which he has borrowings of €110m, had a right of veto over other creditors.

Chris Lehane, a court appointed official, has been appointed to take care of  Mr FitzPatrick's financial affairs and he sought the court's permission to hire a financial consultant to work with him.

Three arrested for dissident activity

Three men, aged 41, 42 and 46, are being questioned at the Serious Crime Suite in Antrim after being arrested in Belfast this morning in relation to dissident republican activity.

Elsewhere in the North a security alert continues in Co. Fermanagh following reports that a suspect device had been abandoned on the Roslea to Brookeborough road. An area that was cordoned off last night is still being searched.

Garda knocked down at music festival

Shane Hanbury (20) appeared before Naas District Court this morning charged with dangerous driving after a garda was knocked down at a checkpoint in Punchestown, Co. Kildare. The officer was on duty at a checkpoint for the Oxegen music festival and was hit by the car driven by Hanbury; he has been released from hospital after being treated for head injuries.

Hanbury, from Tallaght in Dublin, was remanded to Cloverhill Prison to appear in court on Wednesday.

Today's Papers

The Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent headlines this morning both reflect aspects of the economic crisis, with "State pays millions in rent to property tycoons" and "Final bill for Anglo could be €33.5bn" respectively.

The lead story in the Irish Times draws on a report by the HSE into institutions with more than 10 residents, under the headline "Institutions for disabled should be closed down, says report".

The front page of the Irish News carries a photograph of the damage caused by the bomb in Co. Armagh, with the headline "Dissidents detonate first culvert bomb".

The Weather in Galway

It is dry so far but showers are expected later in the day. Temperature 17C.

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