By Brian Hutton
Press Association Newsfile
Copyright 2007 The Press Association Limited
All Rights Reserved
LIMERICK, Ireland — A police officer and a firefighter attending a road collision today were themselves killed when they were struck by a car.
The families of the married men were left devastated and the rural Co Limerick community they served plunged into grief.
Garda Brian Kelleher (46) and firefighter Michael Liston (47) died when a car ploughed into the scene of an accident they were responding to on the coast road between Askeaton and Foynes.
They were called to single vehicle crash, in which no-one was seriously injured, on the main Limerick to Listowel N69 route at around 4.30am this morning.
About 15 minutes later, as they were trying to clear the road, a car coming from the Foynes direction hit the pair.
Sergeant Vincent McCoy, of nearby Askeaton Garda Station, said the exact circumstances of the incident were yet to be established in a major investigation.
He said officers were in shock at the sudden loss of their colleague, a father of three young children, originally from Mallow, Co Cork.
“We can’t take it in at the moment. He will be a sore loss to us, but more so to his young family,” he said.
Garda Kelleher, who was stationed at Croom, was a popular and well-liked member of the force, said Supt McCoy.
“He was very dedicated and extremely hard working,” he said.
“We are all in extreme shock, to say the least.
“We get called out to these scenes every day and you almost become immune to it, but when it’s one of your colleagues, the members are extremely shocked by it.”
An 18-year-old male motorist was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving.
He was later released without charge from Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick City. A full investigation file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Tanaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell contacted the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy to offer his and the government’s condolences to the bereaved family of the Garda officer.
“This tragic event, the loss of life of two emergency workers, is a stark reminder of the risks which people who work for An Garda Siochana and other emergency services take day in, day out, in seeking to promote public safety and to protect life,” he said.
Supt McCoy said there was a rise in the number of emergency service workers being injured or killed during their work.
“It’s becoming more and more of a problem,” he said.
The road was closed for a time between Askeaton and Foynes while the scene of the collision was sealed off for technical examination.
Gardai at Askeaton appealed for witnesses to the incident to get in touch.