A 22-year-old garda who had travelled back to Co Cork to visit his parents died in the early hours of yesterday morning when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a truck.
Garda Evan Lillis, from Macroom, was making the return journey to Dublin following a family visit when his motorcycle was in collision with a truck in Watergrasshill, Cork, shortly after 1 a.m. The young garda had been scheduled to work yesterday afternoon at Dundrum Garda station. A spokesperson for the station, Sgt Pat McDonald, said that the garda's colleagues were saddened at the news of his death, adding: "He was a baby-faced young lad, a real nice fellow and very motivated. He loved being a garda."
Garda Lillis graduated from Templemore in 2001. He had a keen interest in motorcycles and had been due to join the Garda Traffic Corps as a motorcycle garda.
Garda Lillis was originally from Monaghan but moved to Macroom with his parents and four siblings a number of years ago.
Road conditions at the time of the accident were poor because of heavy rain. Garda Lillis died at the scene and his body was taken to Cork University Hospital. The driver of the truck was not injured in the crash.