The pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run in Limerick over the weekend has been named as University of Limerick journalism student Joe Drennan.
Mr Drennan (21), of Mountrath, Co Laois, was standing at a bus stop on the Dublin Road in Castletroy on Friday night when a car that had been involved in a collision with another car earlier that night struck and killed him.
It is understood that Mr Drennan, who was shortlisted for Journalist of the Year at the annual national Student Media Awards, was waiting for a bus around 9.50pm, after he had finished a shift at a local restaurant.
[ Five men die on Ireland’s roads over the weekendOpens in new window ]
Gardaí said the driver of one of the cars “failed to remain at the scene” and that the driver of the second car, a male in his 40s and a woman adult passenger, were taken to University Hospital Limerick for non life threatening injuries.
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Paying tribute to Mr Drennan on Sunday, Dr Kathryn Hayes, Course Director of the BA Journalism and Digital Communication course at University of Limerick said: “We are absolutely devastated in the journalism department and in the wider UL community to learn of the tragic death of our student Joe Drennan. Our heartfelt sympathies are with Joe’s family at this terrible time and all of his classmates and many dear friends.”
Ms Hayes said Mr Drennan had been “an inspirational student and a hugely talented young journalist, who had a bright career ahead”.
“He was passionate and creative and will be sorely missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him,” Ms Hayes added.
In a letter emailed to staff and students, the President of University of Limerick, Professor Kirstin Mey, wrote: “Dear Staff and Students, I am so deeply sad to inform you of the passing of a valued member of our University of Limerick community Joe Drennan, fourth year BA in Journalism & Digital Communication. Joe was also the Editor-in-Chief of the Limerick Voice newspaper.”
“We hold Joe’s family in our thoughts especially his parents Tim and Marguerite and his brothers John, Richard and Kieran and sisters Eva, Sarah and Marie. Our sympathies go out to all of Joe’s journalism classmates and lecturers, to his housemates, friends and fellow UL students and the many others who will be so devastated by his loss.”
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact them and are understood to be investigating whether there are any possible links between the fatal collision and a burnt out vehicle discovered in Corbally, Friday night.
The car that struck Mr Drennan was allegedly involved in an interaction with a Garda unit before the collision on the night, and therefore, while Gardaí are continuing their own investigation, they have also referred the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision to the office of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).