A former garda was arrested following a fatal car crash and an earlier hit-and-run in south Co Dublin early on Saturday morning. Gardaí confirmed that the man arrested was "processed but has since been released" pending investigation. Daniel McConnell reports.
The man, believed to be in his 50s, was arrested at the scene of the fatal head-on collision on "suspicion of drink-driving, and was processed at Dún Laoghaire Garda station", according to a Garda statement.
The crash happened on the Enniskerry side of Stepaside village, just before 1 a.m.
Mr Gordon Geary (71), of Orwell Road, Rathgar, died as a result of the collision between two cars, both of them Mercedes.
A passenger, believed to be Mr Geary's wife, was last night in stable condition in St Vincent's Hospital. She suffered two broken legs.
The car in which she and her husband were travelling was a write-off.
Moments before the crash, two young women were seriously injured nearby when they were struck by a car described as "a large, dark Mercedes". The driver failed to remain at the scene.
The incident happened near the crash scene, at the junction of Blackglen and Woodside roads.
The women, aged 19 and 17, were last night described as seriously ill in hospital.
The younger of the two is being treated in Beaumont Hospital, while the other victim is in St Vincent's.
The condition of the 19-year-old deteriorated somewhat throughout yesterday, a hospital source said.
The young friends were returning home from the local Lamb Doyle's pub on Blackglen Road, where they had attended a friend's 21st birthday party.
They were waiting for a taxi when they were both struck by the car.
Bloodstains at the scene of the hit-and-run were still visible yesterday.
Gardaí at Stepaside station confirmed that following a press appeal over the weekend, more than 20 eye-witnesses had come forward with information on both incidents.
The cars were taken into Garda custody for forensic investigation.
Stepaside residents yesterday expressed shock at the two incidents.
One said: "I only heard about it earlier this morning. I'm in complete shock. It's obvious that the driver had absolutely no regard for his own life, let alone anyone else's. It's simply tragic."
A second said: "I walk this road every day of my life and I've never heard of this happening before. This must be awful for the families of the dead man and the two girls."
"To think that one individual could cause so much damage so quickly. I hope that whoever did this is truly ashamed of themselves. If I did this, I'm not sure I could live with myself," said another.
A number of locals left flowers at the scenes of both incidents.
They are appealing to any other witnesses who may have information to contact Stepaside Garda station.