Garda critical after Galway crash

A Galway garda is in a “very serious condition” in hospital following a crash in Ardrahan which also left a 66-year-old pedestrian dead.

Liam McDonnell – originally from Cleaghmore, Ballinasloe, but who had also lived in the city – was killed on the Galway-Limerick Road after being struck by a car at around 12.30am on Sunday night into Monday morning.

In the same incident, two Gardaí – Peter Murtagh and Sharon Casserly – were injured.

Garda Casserly – who is in her early thirties – sustained leg injuries and is understood to have since suffered a complication leaving her in a very serious condition.

Garda Murtagh is believed to have broken his arm in two places and sustained head injuries.

Mr McDonnell was a resident at the Little Flower Nursing Home in Ardrahan and had been reported missing by staff on Sunday evening.

Gardaí were on the lookout for him and spotted him walking on the N18 – around 2km on the Galway side of Ardrahan.

They had stopped the patrol car to assist him, when a car is understood to have come around a bend and struck the patrol car the two gardaí and Mr McDonnell.

Mr McDonnell died at the scene, and the two gardaí were rushed to hospital.

The driver of the car – a father-of-two aged in his forties and from the local area – was arrested at the scene and later released. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune