Mullingar Hospital has also enacted their escalation procedures this morning, as 19 patients are waiting onsite.

The lifting bridge at the Downs, near Mullingar was damaged following vandalism last month.

According to the latest INMO figures, there are 14 people currently waiting in the Emergency Department in Sligo and 26 people waiting for a bed overall. Mullingar has 12 patients in its Emergency Department.

The deceased - a man in his 50s - was pronounced dead at the scene and his body removed to Mullingar Regional Hospital for a post-mortem exam.

Teagasc's information meetings will take place in Mullingar on the 10th October, Roscommon Town on the 11th, and in Longford on the Tuesday the 17th.

In total, there are 510 patients waiting on trolleys across the country today.

Longford Councillor Paraic Brady says Minister Ryan will have blood on his hands if he does not change his priorities.

It happened at a garage in Mullingar this morning.