A female rally co-driver and a sports photographer were killed today when a car ploughed into the crowd at a road race.

Seven others, including the driver and co-driver, were also injured when a Ford Escort lost control and crashed in a group of about 30 spectators in Co Cavan, Ireland.

The victims were named locally as Caroline Cleary, a navigator in the sport from Wexford who was not taking part in the Cavan Stages Rally, and Joe Lane, a part-time photographer from Galway who regularly contributed to motorsport publications.

Gardai and Motorsport Ireland, which governs the sport, have launched separate investigations into the accident, which happened at around 11.10am at Monaghanoose, about a mile outside Bailieboro.

Superintendent Gerry O’Brien, of Bailieboro Garda Station, said a rally car went over a hump in the road and lost control as it landed.

“It drove into a group of spectators,” he said.

“We understand that the group accounted of about 30-odd people.

“Of those, unfortunately and regrettably, two died at the scene and another five were brought to Cavan General Hospital with injuries.”

The deaths of Ms Cleary, 30, from Tagoat, Co Wexford, and Mr Lane, 50, from Kilgoggin, Co Galway, have plunged Ireland’s motorsport community into grief.

The extent of the injuries suffered by the spectators, driver and co-driver is not known.

Witness Matthew McMahon said he saw the car go over the crest of a road before he heard it skid.

“I don’t know if something broke on the car or if he just lost control,” he told RTE.

“Then I just heard people screaming and people shouting ’red flag, red flag, stop the stage’.

“Then all hell broke loose basically with people crying, people white as ghosts as if something serious had happened.

“And then someone mentioned ’somebody’s been killed’ and we found out how serious it was.”