Man killed in road incident in which two gardaí injured is named

The man who was killed in a road incident in which two gardaí were also injured in south Galway earlier this week has been named.

Liam McDonnell (66), of Galway city and formerly of Ballinasloe, died of injuries sustained when he was hit by a car on the N18 Galway-Limerick road in the early hours of Monday morning.

Mr McDonnell had left Little Flower Nursing Home in Labane, near Ardrahan, and was 2km north of Ardrahan village when he was spotted by the gardaí from Gort station.

The gardaí had stopped the patrol car to assist Mr McDonnell when all three were struck by a car travelling around a sweeping bend.

Mr McDonnell was pronounced dead and his body was taken to University Hospital, Galway, while the gardaí were hospitalised with broken limbs.

A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and taken for questioning.

The man was subsequently released.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission undertook a preliminary examination, as gardaí were involved, but said it was satisfied there was no evidence of Garda misconduct.