SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has said that more lives will be lost on the A5 without long overdue work to upgrade the road.

He was speaking after three local people were killed in a crash last week.

Mr McCrossan called on those objecting to the vital road project to withdraw their opposition immediately so the A5 Western Transport Corridor (WTC) road upgrade can be progressed to minimise the risk.

West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said:

“The deaths of Christine and Dan McKane and their aunt Julia McSorley have cast a dark cloud over this entire community. Everyone is just heartbroken. I have attended many funerals and met bereaved relatives after fatalities on the A5. It never gets any easier.

“The A5 WTC has been held up because of constant objections by a small number of people. Today, I am appealing to them to show some humanity and drop their obstruction once and for all. We have had enough deaths and destruction on this road. The work needs to get underway at the first opportunity. Without this, more lives will be lost, more families left devastated and more communities across this area left trying to pick up the pieces after yet another senseless, avoidable death.”