BEDS v PASSATS THE MATHS IS ALL THE SAME, EIGHT INTO ONE WON'T GO...

There's a children's song that goes "eight in the bed and little one said roll-over, and they all rolled over and one fell out, hit the floor and gave a shout. Please remember to tie a knot in your pyjamas...."

In the light of the tragic events in Buncranna, you have to ask who in their right mind thinks they can get eight in a bed let a lone a VW Passat.

To bring you up to speed if you're reading this from outside Ireland. On Sunday night last, the 11th of July. Eight men where killed in a two car collision on the Clonmany to Buncranna road in Co. Donegal, seven in one car and the single occupant driver of the other. Yes I said single occupant of the other vehicle, there were eight including the driver in the Passat!!!!! Sean Kelly the driver is in a serious condition in Letterkenny Hospital.

This has been described as the worst road accident since records began, bad accidents are not uncommon in Donegal which has the worst record for road accidents and fatalities in the country.

The main crux of this incident is that Sean Kelly the driver of the Passat thought he'd be ok driving a car with 8 passengers in it... Er I drive a Ford Fiesta and it feels crowded with two people and a dog, a Jack Russell who has the run of the back seat at that. Nowhere in the VW manual for a Passat will it ever say "fits four, but hey will easily take another four for good measure..."

They say the cause of the accident wasn't drink related.... Wrong!! The 8 men in the Passat had been out in Clonmany watching the world cup final and according news reports had decided to all pile into one car so as not to drink and drive... Ha! Tell that to the family of 66 year Hugh Friel the innocent party in the other car who was minding his own business on his way home from bingo. I also take into account that the driver of the Passat wasn't drinking, but one of the other loons in the car should have had the guts to stand up and say, listen I'll join Sean in the role of "Designated Dessie". But no the lure of getting tanked while watching the match was too strong when weighed up against the thought of free soft drinks all night courtesy of Coco-Cola or even going four ways on a cab. Ah but sure our "Seanie" has Daddy's great big Passat.

Another part of the story was that just before the fatal impact the Passat had been in a minor collision with another car, too all intents and purposes it failed to stop. This shows what was going on in the car and how uncontrollable it was with that weight in it. For example, there were probably two people in the passenger seat, inebriated, twiddling with the stereo and encroaching onto the drivers space. In the back were at least 5 again in a state of inebriation malarking around, they were all around the 19-22 age group, this wasn't exactly the local knitting clubs annual day trip. The driver concentration wouldn't have been anywhere near the minimum requirement for the roads in that part of the country, He also couldn't see out the rear window due heads, bodies, feet and arms. Peer pressure probably goaded him into fleeing the first scene, pity seven of them didn't get a chance to flee the second scene.

With five people in the back I'm surprised the car was able to get up enough speed to lose control, it's exhaust would've been rubbing on the road and god help it if they'd hit a pot-hole or speed bump. But as I've said and so have other commentators in the past, this generation are brought up behind wheels of high powered sports cars on their games consoles at home, what they never take into consideration is that no matter how much realism a software engineer or games designer puts into his product, in real life there is no restart button.

I'd hate to be in the driver Sean Kelly's shoes when he recovers, the Gardai will probably throw the book at him. Also He'll have the deaths of seven friends and one innocent man on his conscience.

What happens next? The towns of Clonmany and Buncranna will host eight funerals, as for more road safety campaigns, Donegal already has a large and committed Traffic corps, what they and the ongoing graphic media campaigns can't stop is stupid people trying to break a Guinness world record for squeezing people into a family saloon and then trying to drive....

A NOT SO JOLLY JAUNT ROUND THE MED

So you've squashed your bare feet into your deck shoes and slung the waterproof kit bag over your shoulder and headed out the door. On reaching the port you stow your gear on board and go up topside to join your mates haphazzardly painting over the Irish tri-colour on the side of the boat, in accordance with an official request by the Irish Governement. Then you sip GnT's or slug Hieno's as the boat slips out into the Irish Sea. three or four days later you pass through the Iberian peninsula taking in the majestic sight of Gibraltar in the distance.

Then this morning it all seems to go a wry when one is awoken to here the news that number of foreign Nationals have died in a confrontation with Israeli Commandos .

Now this isn't how a Jaunt round the Med should go... Down off certain parts of Africa where Pirates roam, those of course that bear no resemblance to Jack Sparrow, it's expected. But in the Med its a lot more tranquil. Unless that is if you ignore a warning from the Israelis not to go near Palestine, then in my book one is asking for whatever comes your way.

So you say the poor Palestinians are starving, that the big brutish US backed Israel is blockading them. Ok point taken, but firstly are the Palestinians totally without blame in this regards.... Er no. They voted a terrorist group into power, who continue to kill innocent men women and kids, by firing rockets into their neighbours back yard. Hezbollah screamed for years to be given power to change Palestine, what happens once they got there... They realised what a bloody mess the country was in, so went back to doing what they do best, blaming everyone especially Israel for their woes and running up the body count in both Israel and Palestine, without realising how much of a hiding they're on. The Israelis are the master poker players in international politics, whatever you throw at them they'll multiply the response by ten they don't give a tinkers about the attitude of the rest of world, they're getting a job done the only way the know how, according to the Mossad/ 24 hand book.

So why did you join the flotilla? To bring aid to Palestine... Leave that to the professionals, Goal, UNICEF etc, this ain't Dunkirk... It's not an opportunity for you and the Commodore of the local yacht club to steam into something that isn't any of your business. Also the Palestinian smugglers are doing a roaring trade under the Turkish border, I don't really think Palestine is starving, have you seen what they're bring through the tunnels... You name it they'll get it through. Maybe FedEx should take note.

Now I hear you want me to march round the town, ha! When was the last time a Palestinian marched because of anything happening in Ireland. Did they rise up against Anglo Irish? Against the OAPs losing their medical cards... Hmm thought not.

Of course as I walked home through Bray tonight, the biggest bunch of "Bandwagon" jumpers in Ireland where out flag waving at the town hall, with placards proclaiming "Free Gaza". It stood a better chance of that before Hezbollah got their feet under the table.

We have big enough problems ourselves without getting involved a pissing contest between two middle eastern countries, they've been bitching at each other for years, all you'll get for sticking your oar in (excuse the pun) is an over zealous Israeli response . If you walk up to a gate and see a sign saying beware of the dog, then catch site of a big angry Alsatian baring his teeth at you from behind, do you still go in? No you find another way to make contact, send a letter, email use the phone....

To those who lost their lives today, my condolences to the relatives, but they new, they were warned.