MEA Deputy Mayor issues road safety plea after near-fatal collision with family

The damage caused to Deputy Mayor Councillor Bréanainn Lyness‘ car

Mid and East Antrim’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Bréanainn Lyness has issued a heartfelt call for improved road safety and public caution following a serious car accident involving himself and family members on the A1 near Newry.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday 25th May, resulted in injuries to Councillor Lyness, his mother, and his young son.

The collision happened on the A1 dual carriageway, a route frequently flagged for its danger, particularly at crossover points where drivers wait to join fast-moving traffic.

In a public statement following the crash, Cllr Lyness revealed the extent of the injuries sustained by his family.

“As the Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, I am writing to the public about road safety following a near-death accident involving myself, my mother, and my son.

“I suffered a broken arm requiring surgery, as well as whiplash, while my mother sustained bruised ribs, whiplash, and muscle damage.”

Deputy Mayor Councillor Bréanainn Lyness in hospital following the collision and the x-ray of the injury to his arm that will require surgery

His son, while physically spared from major injury, remains affected by the traumatic experience.

Bréanainn credited the child’s car seat for protecting him from more serious harm, adding:

“Thank God my son came off the best due to his car seat—which are worth their weight in gold but must be replaced after any crash. We are all still recovering from the trauma.”

Detailing the circumstances of the crash, he continued:

“On the dual carriageway, if you are waiting to cross, please be patient and do not risk it; what is a few minutes compared to taking someone’s life? I was very lucky, but we hear of people dying in similar accidents every year on the same roads.”

Bréanainn recounted how the crash occurred when another vehicle attempted to cross the dual carriageway.

“As I was driving up the dual carriageway, someone pulled out trying to cross, narrowly missed the car beside me, and I collided with the side of their vehicle. Please be patient—a few minutes could save a life, including your own.”

Councillor Lyness also used the statement to appeal to the Department for Infrastructure (DFI), urging the government to prioritise upgrades to roads like the A1.

“We were lucky considering the circumstances, but many others are not. I also ask DFI to develop these roads so that they are safer for the public to use.”

A Call for Action

Road safety on Northern Ireland’s major routes—particularly the A1 between Belfast and Newry—has long been a matter of public concern. Several fatalities and serious injuries have occurred in recent years at junctions where vehicles must cross dual carriageways without the benefit of overpasses or roundabouts.

Campaigners have repeatedly called for infrastructure changes, including the closure of dangerous right turns and the construction of safer crossing points. Councillor Lyness’s experience is the latest in a series of incidents highlighting the urgency of reform.

Community Support and Recovery

As the family continues to recover from both the physical and emotional impact of the crash, Councillor Lyness hopes his message will encourage others to exercise patience and caution on the roads—and for authorities to take further steps to prevent such accidents in the future.