At least two people are in a critical condition after a car hit several people outside a Dublin church.
It is understood the driver suffered a heart attack on the grounds of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clondalkin at 10:20am this morning.
A large emergency services presence attended the scene of the "very serious incident” outside the church.
Emergency services at the scene outside the Immaculate Conception Church in Clondalkin, Dublin, 25-06-2018. Image: RollingNews
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said his thoughts are with them:
"I would offer my sympathies to those who may have been injured and again I would ask other road users who were int he area to assist the Garda Síochána with their inquiries."
One person was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
Two have been taken to James St Hospital and another taken to Tallaght Hospital.
Two of the injured are described as being in a critical condition, however the extent of their injuries is not yet known.
Two critical & several injured after a car struck a group outside a church in Clondalkin in Dublin. Eyewitness Maureen McNulty says the place was "littered with people on the ground". The driver - a priest- suffered a heart attack pic.twitter.com/IyMEpMRGJP
— Paul Quinn (@pdquinn7) June 25, 2018
Local woman Maureen McNulty was just a metre away from the car when it struck the group, and said she is lucky to be alive:
"The place was littered with people on the ground - you know, Frightening," she said.
"The ambulance said, 'how many do you need?' and I said, 'you'd want to send down about half-a-dozen ambulances.
"But it was frightening - oh my god."
The Laurel Park / New Road was closed for a time following the incident, however it has since reopened.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area where possible.
In a statement this afternoon, the Archdiocese of Dublin expressed its sympathies on behalf of the priests and staff of the Clondalkin Parish to those injured in the incident.
It said church staff are “keeping all involved in their prayers at this difficult time.”
“Parish staff worked closely with emergency services in the aftermath of the incident to assist where they could,” reads the statement.
“A funeral due to take place in the Parish Church this morning has been rearranged for this afternoon."
Reporting from Paul Quinn ...
