“I am appealing to everyone to help ensure everyone makes it home safely to their families.”
Drivers and road users have been urged to put safety first this bank holiday weekend following a “catastrophic” few days on Northern Ireland’s roads.
The PSNI and Stormont‘s Infrastructure Minister made the joint safety appeal after five people lost their lives on the roads at the weekend.
A 16-year-old, named locally as Callum Hutchinson from Co Tipperary, is the youngest victim from the weekend following a collision on Sunday, April 26 on the Belfast Road at Nutts Corner.
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Two men, Malek Kerbache, 41, and Mateusz Prokopiuk, 31, both from Portadown, died following a two-vehicle collision on Glenavy Road in the Upper Ballinderry area on Saturday, April 25.
On the same evening, Emmet Potter from Carrickmore died after a crash involving a van in the Derrycourtney Road area of Caledon in Co Tyrone.
Patrick Deery from the Dungannon area died following a collision involving a motorcycle in the Omagh area at around 11am on Sunday, April 26.
Their deaths brought the toll for the year so far to 29. This is more than double the number of road deaths for the same period last year in Northern Ireland when there were 14 road deaths.
Speaking ahead of the bank holiday weekend, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones issued the joint safety appeal “in the wake of what has been a horrendous weekend on our roads”.
ACC Jones said: “The past weekend has been catastrophic on our roads. Within 24 hours, between Saturday 25 April and Sunday 26 April, five people lost their lives as a result of road traffic collisions. “The thoughts and sympathies of the Police Service of Northern Ireland are with the families and the loved ones of those who have died, and those who were injured.” She added: “These deaths are a stark and cruel reminder of the very real dangers that exist on our roads. Twenty nine people have lost their lives on roads in Northern Ireland so far this year – what we might think of traditionally as the size of a school class. “This is 29 families whose lives have been changed in an instant and forever – friends and communities left devastated.” Minister Kimmins said: “We are just four months into 2026 and so far, 29 people have died on our roads. That means, on average, a life has been lost every four days. They set off on what was to be an everyday journey, but it turned out to be their last day.
“The loss occurs in an instant, but the devastation it causes lasts a lifetime for those left behind and I send my heartfelt condolences to everyone who is grieving today. “As we head into the bank holiday weekend, my appeal is for everyone using the roads to take extra care. Control your speed, put your phone away, never drink or drug drive, don’t get distracted and always wear your seatbelt. “We all want to get out and about to enjoy the good weather with our friends and family. We’ve all got plans, places to be. Let’s make sure we all get there – and get home – safely.”
ACC Jones noted that we’re heading into another busy period on our roads with the first of the May bank holidays and the North West 200 in Portrush next week.
She said: “Lots of people will be socialising, travelling to meet family and friends and our appeal is please be careful on our roads. The Police Service will have a visible enforcement presence on the roads across Northern Ireland, working to prevent and detect Fatal Five offences, including drink/drug driving and excess speed.
“Remember the Fatal Five – control your speed, put down your phone, never drink or drug drive, don’t get distracted and always wear your seatbelt. I do not want to have our officers knocking on anyone’s door to hear the life-shattering news their loved one has been injured, or has died as a result of a collision. “I am appealing to everyone to help ensure everyone makes it home safely to their families.”
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