Gardaí in Letterkenny are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young man in Letterkenny over the bank holiday weekend. Regina Daly reports.
Mr Seán Carlin (23), Dungorman, Castlefinn, Donegal, died in Letterkenny Hospital on Sunday night, after sustaining serious injuries at Port Road, Letterkenny, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The incident, involving a number of young men, happened at approximately 3.45a.m. on Sunday. One man was arrested and detained for questioning at Letterkenny Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was later released without charge.
Yesterday, the Garda forensics unit continued its examination of the scene at Port Road, and the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, travelled to Donegal to carry out a post-mortem.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident, in particular anyone who was travelling on a white minibus that was parked in the area. They can be contacted at 074-9167100.
Gardaí would not comment on what happened, but it is understood Mr Carlin was involved in a row between two groups of youths at the Station Roundabout and got separated from his friends. He was set upon by a gang and ended up underneath a bus which moved off and struck him.
Mr Carlin had just set up his own roofing business with a friend. He was a well-liked member of the local community and a prominent player for his local GAA club Robert Emmet's - he captained the team that won the Donegal Junior Championship in 2002.
Club PRO, Mr Phelim McLaughlin, said they were devastated at the news of Seán's death. "The entire community is in shock. I don't know exactly what happened but I believe he went to break up a fight; he was that kind of person."
A large crowd of mourners gathered at Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday evening for the removal of the remains of Mr Carlin to the family home. He will be buried after Mass at St Mary's Church in Castlefin, on Wednesday morning.