Heartbroken relatives of woman killed in Letterkenny collision arrive in Donegal

Relatives of Layla Hussein Ali, the woman killed in a road traffic collision on the outskirts of Letterkenny on Friday evening, arrived in Donegal over the weekend.

The 22-year-old, a Somali national, was a pedestrian and was struck by a vehicle at Illistrin on the N56 road at around 7pm.

Ms Ali had only been Ireland for a little over nine months having arrived in the country in March 2023. Relatives of the deceased woman, who are based in the UK, travelled to Donegal and are being aided by a family liaison officer, appointed by An Garda Siochana.

She is the first person to lose her life on Donegal’s roads in 2024 and the incident is prompting fresh calls for the wearing of high visibility clothing to be mandatory for pedestrians.

“The importance of wearing high visibility gear when out walking cannot be over emphasised,” Letterkenny-based Fianna Fail Councillor Donal Coyle told Donegal Live.

“It is essential that people be seen when out walking. It’s something that should be compulsory. Indeed, I am considering tabling a motion to next plenary council meeting asking that Donegal County Council write to the relevant minister and ask that the wearing of high visibility clothing be made compulsory for pedestrians.”

Councillor Donal Coyle

In 2023, there were 44 pedestrians killed on Ireland’s roads.

In the aftermath of Friday’s fatal collision, garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene. The N56 road between Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan was closed overnight on Friday and into Saturday to allow a full examination of the scene with local diversions put in place.

Ms Ali’s remains were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital.

“It’s a terrible start to the new year, a young girl taken in the prime of her life,” Councillor Kevin Bradley, the Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, told Donegal Live.

“God love the poor family, my heart goes out to them. It is devastating and thoughts and prayers go to the driver of the car involved too.

“It was just terrible news to get. There are too many lives being lost on our roads at the moment.”

The collision occurred close to the Ballyare junction and gardai are appealing for information. Officers at Milford Garda Station are leading the investigation and are seeking dash cam footage as well as CCTV from private homes and businesses in the area.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

“Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N56 in the Illistrin area between 6:00pm and 7:15pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milford Garda station on 074 9153060, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”