Garda ombudsman investigating Limerick crash

THE OFFICE of the Garda Ombudsman is investigating a crash involving a Garda 4x4 and a car in which five people were injured …

THE OFFICE of the Garda Ombudsman is investigating a crash involving a Garda 4x4 and a car in which five people were injured on the same stretch of road where a garda and a fireman were killed four years ago.

The weekend collision occurred at Barigone, Askeaton, Co Limerick, at about 11pm on Saturday.

Three male gardaí travelling in the patrol vehicle and two men who were in the car were taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for “non life-threatening injuries”, a Garda official said. They were discharged from hospital yesterday.

It is believed the two vehicles collided at a well-known dangerous bend on the N69 between Foynes and Askeaton.

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“The Garda ombudsman office is now investigating the incident so we can’t publicly comment on it,” a Garda press office representative said in Dublin.

The road was closed overnight as gardaí and road collision inspectors examined the scene. The road was reopened yesterday morning.

Anyone with information can contact the office of the Garda ombudsman on 1890 600 800.

Saturday night’s collision happened near the spot where Garda Brian Kelleher (46) and 47-year-old part-time fireman Michael Liston were killed while attending the scene of a road crash almost five years ago on February 25th, 2007.

Niall Shannon (22), of Lenamore, Ballylongford, Co Kerry, was subsequently found guilty of drink-driving and banned from driving for 20 years.

Two separate juries could not reach a verdict on a charge against him of dangerous driving causing the deaths of the two emergency service workers. He denied the charge.