GARDA ARRESTED IN FATAL HIT-RUN PROBE
GSOC interview on death of coach
A GARDA has been arrested as part of a fatal hit-and-run probe, we can exclusively reveal.
The officer has been interviewed by the Garda Ombudsman Commission which is leading the probe into the incident that claimed the life of a popular GAA coach last month.
Niall Maceneaney was struck by a private car registered to a serving garda who was off-duty at the time.
He was left for dead in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day on the Rathmullen Road in Drogheda, Co Louth.
The vehicle failed to remain at the scene and the off-duty garda under investigation has been suspended. Now we can exclusively reveal that a member An Garda Siochana has been arrested as part of the investigation and has been interviewed.
In a statement to this paper, GSOC said: “GSOC received a referral from An Garda Siochana on March 17, following a road traffic incident in Drogheda that took place in the early hours of the morning.
“The referral was made by a Garda Superintendent under section 102 (1) of the Garda
Siochana Act, 2005.
The matter is now under investigation by GSOC further to section 98 of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005.
“As part of the investigation a person has been arrested and interviewed.
“GSOC’S investigation remains ongoing.”
Earlier we revealed a vital piece of evidence – a registration plate from the suspected vehicle involved in the fatal hitand-run was discovof ered at the scene – which enabled investigators to trace the owner of the vehicle involved.
We also revealed that CCTV footage tracing the movements of the suspect and vehicle will prove vital in the investigation.
Sources said earlier: “CCTV will prove vital in this probe tracing the movements of the suspect and the car.”
Mr Maceneaney, who managed Termonfeckin club St Fechin’s to the last two Louth senior hiring championship titles, was found unresponsive on the road,
The 42-year-old was pronounced dead following the arrival of emergency services.