Two 22-year-old men have been killed after a car crashed into a crowd of spectators at an international car rally in the Republic of Ireland.

One of the men is from south Armagh, the other is from Inishowen in County Donegal.

The accident happened shortly before 1400 BST on Friday when the car left the road and struck three people at Cloghan, six miles from Ballybofey.

A third man is in intensive care in hospital following the accident during the second stage of the Donegal International rally.

Slippery conditions

His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services two men, who were both race marshals, died at the scene.

A spokeswoman for the Garda Siochana, said the vehicle involved in the collision had been taken to Letterkenny station for examination.

Spectators said there had been a few heavy showers and conditions were slippery. They were horrified at the loss of life. The international rally is one of the biggest events in the Donegal sporting calendar, drawing thousands of spectators.

It was cancelled last year due to foot-and-mouth.

The organisers of the rally have cancelled the rest of the event as a mark of respect to those killed and injured.