Man 'on ground' when hit by garda's car

Gardaí are continuing their investigation into the death of a man who was hit by a car driven by an off-duty garda.

Gardaí are continuing their investigation into the death of a man who was hit by a car driven by an off-duty garda.

In a statement last night, the Garda Press Office said early indications are that Derek O'Toole (24), of Shancastle, Clondalkin, was "lying on the ground" when he was hit by the car in Lucan village on Sunday morning.

"There is no evidence to suggest that he had been assaulted or that any other vehicle was involved. The incident is classified as a fatal road traffic collision," the statement said.

 Derek O'Toole
Derek O'Toole

The driver of the car, which was carrying three other off-duty gardaí, was arrested at the scene and taken to Harcourt Terrace Garda station where he was tested on an intoxyliser machine. He was found to be under the legal limit.

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The garda's vehicle was impounded and was forensically tested throughout yesterday. Crash scene investigators also examined the scene in Lucan throughout Sunday.

Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office said if any members of the public had misgivings about how the investigation was being conducted they should contact gardaí.

"It will be done absolutely professionally, absolutely 100 per cent. This will be done in the same professional manner as every other investigation."

Speaking this morning, Supt Donohoe noted that seven gardaí were prosecuted for drink-driving offences last year. A further 24 were prosecuted for criminal offences.

"I don't think the public should have any doubt that if gardaí commit offences, whether they be road traffic offences or other criminal offences, there is certainly no problem in the Garda Síochána bringing those people to court," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

The officer involved in death of Mr O'Toole has not been suspended.

"He is the subject of this investigation and that is as much as we can say at the moment," Supt Donohoe added.

"It shouldn't be lost sight of, either, that he is a young man who was involved in an incident that resulted in a death, and that's not an easy thing to live with either."