One dead, three injured after Dublin bus crash

One person has died, and three others have been hurt after a double-decker bus crashed into pedestrians in Dublin city centre.

Ireland's justice minister confirmed the news to the Irish parliament, adding that those injured are being treated in hospital. It is understood that the incident in the pedestrianised North Earl Street is being treated as a road crash.

Emergency services were called shortly after 12.30pm to the junction of Talbot Street and Marlborough Street. Images from the scene showed a police cordon and a forensics tent around the crash site.

The front window of the bus also appeared smashed. The operator, Bus Eireann, confirmed one of its vehicles was involved but said it was not in service at the time of the incident.

Dublin Fire Brigade said it "received reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus and pedestrians". In a statement, it said: "Over 20 firefighter/paramedics and advanced paramedics responded on four engines, two emergency tenders with heavy rescue tools and an advanced paramedic response car.

"Two district officers also responded to the incident along with four ambulances and a rapid response vehicle from the National Ambulance Service." Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan told the Irish parliament: "I regret to say that there has been a fatality there and three others have been taken to hospital. "Obviously our thoughts are with the family of the person who has been fatally injured, and indeed the people who are in hospital.

We wish them well." Councillor Ray McAdam, Dublin's Lord Mayor, said: "My thoughts are with those who have been injured and with their families at this difficult time." Sinn Fein's party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, who is an elected politician representing central Dublin, said she was "devastated" to learn of the crash and thanked emergency responders. Rail services on the Luas Green Line have been suspended between Parnell Street and St Stephen's Green, and people have been asked to avoid the area while emergency crews deal with the incident..