Postmortems carried out on father and son in Limerick crash

The findings of postmortems on the bodies of a father and son, who died on Tuesday in a suspected murder-suicide car crash, will not be confirmed for weeks, as authorities await toxicology test results.

Postmortems were completed shortly after 7pm on Wednesday on the bodies of Marco Velocci (28) and his son Alex (3) by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Louise Mulligan at University Hospital Limerick.

A source said “nothing of note was discovered” in the autopsies, and that the final pathologist report is “awaited”.

As part of normal postmortem procedures, toxicology tests were conducted on the bodies to investigate whether or not either of the deceased had consumed any medication or drugs prior to their deaths.

The results will take weeks, a source said.

The cause of their deaths is not likely to be fully known until after a future inquest at the Limerick County Coroner’s Court.

Sources said gardaí had not yet interviewed Jodie Power (26), the mother of the deceased child and the former partner of Mr Velocci.

Ms Power suffered stab wounds during a domestic incident on Tuesday morning with Mr Velocci, who then fled her home with their son.

Mr Velocci apparently stayed in his former partner's house in the village of Oola, Co Limerick, on Monday night before an argument took place at breakfast.

Mr Velocci and his son were then killed after his car apparently veered into the path of an oncoming articulated truck, colliding head-on with the vehicle, on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road shortly before 8.30am.

The driver of the truck, who escaped serious injury, is said to be severely traumatised.

Ms Power underwent surgery for a broken arm and is in a stable condition at University Hospital Limerick.

Childhood sweethearts

Mr Velocci and Ms Power were childhood sweethearts who separated two years ago.

Mr Velocci shared custody of their son, who lived with his mum in a rented bungalow in Oola.

Mr Velocci’s father is Italian but he was born in Ireland.

The 28-year-old worked as a plumber and had been living in Lattin in south Tipperay after the break-up of his relationship with Ms Power.

Bill O’Donnell, a next-door neighbour of Marco Velocci’s parents in Oola, worked with the 28-year-old in a furniture shop a number of years ago.

“They are my next-door neighbours and I worked with that lad for a while; lovely people.”

Mr O’Donnell said the community was in shock and that there was a numbness around the village of Oola which would stay with people for a long time to come.

“It’s unbelievable, people are just walking around in shock, it’s terrible,” Mr O’Donnell said.

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor and Deputy Mayor Noel Gleeson said the community was devastated by the tragedy.

"My sympathies go out to all the families on both sides of this awful tragedy. It is particularly sad as both sets of grandparents live close to one another so the entire community is just shocked and devastated for all concerned," said Cllr Gleeson.

Neighbours in Oola described Marco Velocci as a “good soccer player and a good young fella”.

“His family lived here. It is an awful shock to the village. Jodie’s parents are from the village too. It’s terrible to hear that a young boy lost his life,” said one local woman.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or may have travelled the road between 8am and 8.30am to contact Bruff Garda station on 061 382940, or rhe Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800-666111 or any Garda station.