Driver ‘mowed down’ three people following pub row

Man in hit-and-run goes missing ‘after using his car as a weapon’

A DRIVER involved in a hit-and-run ‘deliberately mowed down’ three pedestrians following a pub row, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.

It is understood that the 34year-old Dundalk driver involved in the crash in Co. Louth on Sunday is now ‘on the run’, and Garda searches are underway.

A passenger in the car, also involved in the ‘pub disagreement’, cannot be located by investigating detectives either. Both men have ‘gone to ground’, said a well-placed source.

Gardaí are unaware if the driver has remained in the Republic, gone over the border or has managed to take a ferry out of the country. Detectives have established that the driver and his passenger were involved in a row inside a pub in Ardee, Co. Louth, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Following this, the driver appears to have ‘seen red’ and ‘effectively used his car as a weapon’ when he saw some of those he had been arguing with outside the pub later that night.

The driver, who is known to gardaí, was easily identified as he is the registered owner of the car that struck the pedestrians. He abandoned his car just yards from where it mounted a pavement outside a pub in the town of Ardee, injuring three people.

His passenger also fled and neither have returned to their homes or any of their known regular ‘haunts’ since, sources say.

The incident happened on the town’s Market Street at around 1.15am on Sunday, when the car left the road and drove onto the footpath.

Two women aged 20 and 21 and a man in his early 50s were knocked down as they were standing outside a pub.

Gardaí say the car, a silver Vauxhall Vectra, left the scene without stopping, leaving the injured people lying on the footpath as the emergency services were called.

The crashed car was found a short distance away but both driver and passenger had already fled by the time gardaí arrived at the scene.

The victims were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth, where they are all said to be in a stable condition.

They were yesterday being treated for fractures and bruising. None of their injuries are believed to be life threatening.

A senior source said: ‘This incident could have been a lot more serious. These three pedestrians could have been easily killed.

‘What happened was absolutely shocking. There was a pub row between the driver and a number of people inside the pub. He then got into his car with his friend and chose to use his car as a weapon.

‘He tried to kill those people standing outside.

‘This is a lot more serious than a regular hit-and-run – he tried to mow people down deliberately.’

The source added that alcohol ‘appeared to be a factor’ in the incident.

‘He used his own car, so this wasn’t the smartest move. He is now missing, as is his passenger. Searches are ongoing. This driver is in serious trouble for his actions.’

Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage who was in the area of Ardee at that time to come forward to any Garda station or contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

ali.bracken@dailymail.ie

Registered owner of the vehicle

‘What happened was shocking’