There are two stone markers on the old Dublin-Belfast road in Co Louth opposite the Monasterboice Inn, also known as Donegan’s. Although the stretch of road is a 60 km/h zone, few drivers slow down enough to notice.

A marker marks the memory of Shane Whelan (19), who was killed 11 years ago as he crossed the road from the Monasterboice Inn to his grandmother’s house.

Across a lane, less than 10m away, is a stone memorial to his grandfather, Don McCullough, who was killed crossing the same stretch of road on May 4, 1991. He died aged 51 birth. The family tragedy does not end here.

In the driveway between the two places where those deaths occurred is the McCullough family home. In 1982, Séamus McCullough, then just 17 months old, was killed when he stepped in front of a milkman’s van.

“We are absolutely devastated by three tragedies in our family. Our lives will never be the same,” said Shane’s mother, Bernie Whelan.

“We think of all the things that Shane and Dad (Don) have lost in our families. They were such a big part of the family and the local community.”

On 27 October 2013, Shane Whelan attended his uncle’s bachelor party at the Monasterboise Inn. He decided to leave his luggage at his grandmother’s house when he was hit by a car and killed.

Shane “loved life,” his mother said. He was minor player of the year in 2012 with his local club Naomh Mairtin and worked part-time at the Monasterboise Inn. Study sport and recreation at Drogheda Institute of Further Education. His whole life was ahead of him.

The stone marker to remember Shane was placed on the 10th anniversary of his death. Now he would be 30 years old. The family will have a birthday Mass for him and a gathering at his home on Sunday.

Losing her father, son and brother to road traffic incidents has made Ms Whelan keenly aware of the fragility of life and how poor decisions on the road leave families devastated.

The Whelan family later discovered that the traffic lights on the stretch of road had been out of action for three years before Shane was killed in 2013. In 2001, a couple, due to travel to Australia the next day, were killed at only a few a few from where he. he died

Mrs Whelan is now campaigning for more measures which she believes will ensure there are no more road deaths.

Last year, flashing lights signaling drivers were entering a 60km/h zone were removed in a collision and have not been replaced. On the other side of the road, there is a double set of traffic lights with a central island. When one set of lights is green, drivers can quickly pass, but on the other side they are red at the same time.

It would be easy, she thinks, for a pedestrian to think the crosswalk is free to cross at both ends and could step right into passing traffic.

Ms Whelan said she contacted Fianna Fáil general election candidate for Louth Alison Comyn out of exasperation with the current situation. “This has been going on for a year and nothing is being done about it. It’s another accident waiting to happen. I don’t want other families to go through what we went through.”

Ms Comyn said she had asked the council to undertake an urgent survey of the road and then put in place the remedial measures that needed to be taken.