The 81-year-old who died in a hit-an-run in Co Roscommon on Saturday night has been named as Catholic priest Fr Michael Guckian.
Fr Guckian, originally from Co Roscommon, lived with the Oblate order at Mary Immaculate Parish in Inchicore, Dublin 8. It is understood he was visiting family in Co Roscommon for the weekend and had been due to return to Dublin on Monday.
Fr Guckian was fatally injured at about 11pm in Keadue and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver failed to remain at the scene, but a man aged 20 later presented himself at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station.
A priest from the Oblate order who worked alongside Fr Guckian described him as a “wonderful” priest.
"Fr Guckian spent a lot of time in the south of the Philippines doing missionary work when he was ordained and then he came back and was working here in the parish," he said.
‘Very well liked’
“He was very well liked, he was a great man for visiting the sick and the poor. He was wonderful. It was just extraordinary how he worked with the people of Inchicore, he was a very good priest. He said Mass every morning here.”
Local Sinn Féin councillor Daithi Doolan said Fr Guckian was “very popular” in the area.
“It’s very sad, he was very popular and well-known in the community. The Oblates is the main church in the area and it’s very central to the community there,” he said.
“There is a lot of events on in the parish hall there and Fr Guckian always made sure the premises were open to everyone, regardless of their faith. He’ll be a big loss to the community.”
A full forensic and technical examination of the scene was carried out on Sunday morning.
Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Boyle Garda station on 071-9664620, the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111, or any Garda station.
