A 30-year-old man died and three others were injured in a single-vehicle crash near Kilgarvan, Co Kerry.
The dead man was named last night as Martin McDonagh, of Mussander Road, Coleraine. Co. Derry. He was a front seat passenger in the car that crashed at one of a a series of bends at Derreenacullig, Kilgarvan, on a regional road (R569), the main artery between Kenmare, Kilgarvan and the N22 Killarney to Cork Road. A Garda patrol car had kept the Northern Ireland registered car under observation from Kenmare, after receiving a number of reports about the car.
The gardaí were following behind when the crash occurred at 11.35pm on Sunday night.
According to the Garda Press Office, the gardaí were attempting to bring the vehicle to a stop. A Christmas Garda traffic corps checkpoint lay ahead on the N22.
The car went out of control, crossed the road, crashed into a fence, flattened a number of concrete posts over a 50-metre stretch, struck a rock and overturned, ending up on its roof and facing back towards Kenmare. It is speculated it was travelling at some speed at the time.
Garda technical experts were measuring the scene yesterday.
Supt Tom Duggan of Kanturk has been appointed in charge of the investigation.
The road was closed for a number of hours at the time of the accident but was re-opened yesterday.
The driver of the car was released from Kerry General Hospital early yesterday and then arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. He was released last night without charge and a file is being sent to the DPP.
The injured were taken to Kerry General Hospital on Sunday night.
A woman passenger was seriously injured and was removed to Cork University Hospital where she was described as stable last night.
A second woman was also injured.