Andrew Carey
IT has emerged that the driver of a car that struck and seriously injured three pensioners in Parteen Co Clare on Thursday evening last as he was being pursued by Gardai, was drunk, as well as being a suspect in a burglary committed earlier the same day.
Two men, who were in the 1999 registered Hyundai Accent were being pursued by Gardai before the car mounted a footpath and struck the three pensioners pinning one between the Hyundai and a parked car.
All three pensioners, who had enjoyed an afternoon of pitch and putt earlier in the village were taken to hospital with serious injuries but one of the three elderly men, a 79 year old, had to have one leg amputated as a result of injuries sustained.
The victims were named locally as retired Garda Willie Barry, Eric Ryan and the third man is Dermot O’Brien, a retired postman in three are in their 70s and all three men are from Limerick.
The 26-year-old drunk driver and his passenger fled the scene but one was apprehended. He was taken into garda custody but was so drunk questioning was postponed it is understood. He remains in custody
A second suspect remains at large.
The office of the Garda Siochana ombudsman commission is investigating the incident as a garda car was in pursuit of the car used by the two men suspected of carrying out burglaries in Doonass, Clonlara earlier.
The garda investigation continues and Gardai are appealing for witnesses.
