Police involvement prior to fatal bike crash probed

Investigation: Pirc look into 33-year-old dad’ s death in one-vehicle incident

A probe is under way into police involvement immediately before a horror early-morning motorbike crash in Inverness.

Dad-of-one James Lynagh, 33, from Tain, was killed in the accident on the city’s Culduthel Road at 3.10am on Saturday.

It emerged last night that the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) is conducting a separate investigation into the circumstances leading up to the single-vehicle collision.

A spokeswoman said: “We are carrying out an investigation into the actions of police officers in the lead-up to a road traffic collision in Inverness involving a motorcycle in the early hours of Saturday. A 33-year-old man died.

“The incident was referred to the Pirc by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and a report will be submitted to them in due course.”

Road policing sergeant Chris Murray confirmed they were assisting with the Pirc inquiries.

He said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of James at this difficult time.

“We are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision and are appealing for witnesses, specifically the owner of a lightcoloured Mercedes private hire or taxi vehicle which was in the Culduthel Road area around 3.15am, who may have seen the motorcycle prior to the collision.

“Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Mr Lynagh was the rider of a Suzuki GSF600 motorcycle, which was the only vehicle involved in the fatal collision.

His family has asked that the following statement is released through Police Scotland.

“We would like to thank all our friends and family for their support.

“The incident was referred to the Pirc by the Crown Office”

“James was a loving son to Rosie, brother to Kerry and doting dad to Riley and will be greatly missed.”

Pirc and Police Scotland last night refused to say whether the incident involved police vehicles in a “blue-light chase”.

The 33-year-old’s mother Rosie McCann and sister Kerry Lynagh told The Press and Journal earlier this week that he was “loved by many” and would be greatly missed.

They described him as a “doting dad” to eight-year-old Riley and thanked the Tain community for rallying around since news of the tragedy emerged.

DOTING DAD: James Lynagh from Tain died while riding his motorcycle in the early hours of Saturday morning