Five dead following a two-car crash

Five people have died and three others have been injured in a road crash in Dundalk in County Louth.

Gardaí (Irish police) said the three men and two women who died, were all under the age of 25 and were travelling in a car which collided with another vehicle on the Ardee Road at Gibstown just after 21:00, local time on Saturday.

It is understood that the deceased may have been travelling to a location to socialise when the crash occurred.

Gardaí said on Sunday morning that "the vehicles and bodies of the deceased all remain at scene".

Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane McGuinness said he lives close to the scene of the accident.

"It is a very dangerous stretch of road, with bad bends and no public lighting," he told BBC News NI.

"The weather was very bad last night.

"This is a real tragedy and I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims," he said.

Gardaí said the road remains closed between the N52 and the R171, pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Local traffic diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.