Gardai in Co Cork have arrested a man in connection with the theft of a car which was involved in a hit-and-run accident last night near Midleton in which a young boy died.
The man was being questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which allows him to be held for up to 12 hours. He was arrested after an extensive search of a wooded area at Castlemartyr where the occupant of the stolen car had fled after the accident took place.
The Honda car was stolen in Youghal at about 7.30 p.m. It collided with a vehicle driven by a woman who was accompanied by her three children, aged 7, 11 and 14, at Castlemartyr at 8.20 p.m. Both cars had been travelling in the Midleton direction.
The 11-year-old boy died in Cork University Hospital. The woman and her other children were also taken to the hospital where they were said to be "comfortable".
Gardai in Midleton are appealing for any witnesses to the accident. Information to Midleton station (021) 631324 or any Garda station.