A delivery driver was killed when he accidentally reversed his car into the Grand Canal in Co Kildare and was drowned.
The man, named locally as Jason Hallahan (43), made a takeaway delivery of food to a premises near the canal. As he went to leave, it is believed he reversed his car in the dark into the water.
Tributes were paid by members of the local community to Mr Hallahan, who was originally from Prosperous, Co Kildare and had lived in Cherrywood, Clondalkin, Dublin.
A death notice said the fatality, “following an accident ... [was] deeply regretted by his loving daughter Evelyn, partner Sharon, mother Patricia, father Seamus, uncles, aunts, cousins and a large circle of friends”.
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The incident occurred at about 8pm on Sunday. Mr Hallahan was recovered from the water and treated by a crew from the National Ambulance Service. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was removed from the scene and a postmortem was due to take place.
The scene was preserved on Monday for examination by forensic collision investigators and the Garda Water Unit. Access along the canal at this location had been restricted.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Several locals heard the splash as the car went into the water, but to date there has been no eyewitnesses to the tragedy.
Those with camera footage, including motorists with dashcam, from the area at the time are asked to provide it to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Naas Garda station on 045 884300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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