A motorist who reportedly fled the scene of a collision which left a cyclist with life-changing injuries, including a severed foot, has been released as local police continue to appeal for witnesses to the horrific incident.
Off-duty Garda inspector Niall Flood — described in Irish media reports as an experienced cyclist — was riding along the R522 near Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, last Thursday when he was flung from his bike at around 7.15pm.
His police colleagues are reportedly working on the assumption that the motorist fled the scene and drove to a relative’s property, at which point a family member found the cyclist’s foot wedged into the car and contacted the authorities.
Air ambulance medics raced to treat the stricken cyclist, arriving 12 minutes after being notified, and applied a tourniquet to stem the blood loss from the injury, which was severed below the shinbone above the ankle.
Mr Flood was kept conscious and airlifted to Cork University Hospital, where he is currently being treated for multiple bone fractures, lacerations and bruising, as well as the severed wound.
A woman in her 20s was arrested later on Thursday evening but has since been released without charge while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The car which is understood to have been involved in the incident was also seized for forensic examination.
Liam Galvin, a Fine Gael councillor for Newcastle West, where Mr Flood is stationed, paid tribute to the cyclist, who he described as “an excellent Garda”.
“He is one of the good guys, and our thoughts are with him and his wife. He had big ideas and plans for policing in Newcastle West and it is just a crying shame what has happened, and I just hope he will get well,” the councillor told the Irish Examiner.
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to last Thursday’s collision to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station (061 212 400), the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
The photo illustrating this article is of the R522 near Newcastle West, but may not be the exact site of the collision. Please note the comments are closed on this story.
UPDATE!! Some poor young man has been arrested due to this car taking a tumble. The good news is he was released on unconditional bail....
Aye! It's tough for drivers oop in t'North. In Lancashire, even the MOT testing garages can't afford MOTs!
Slow news day?
It's more DuckDuckGo-fu (which is probably closer to being Bing-fu)
Don't get me wrong - I'd love to pay a visit and if I lived there I'm pretty sure I'd use the paths where suitable for my cycle journeys....
Maybe they'll employ some sniffer dogs? Note - it's the City of London rather than being London, the city which would be much better.
I would definitely recommend looking at the hase pino, they do a kit to put kid sized pedals on the front so your child can participate. But unlike...
maybe Rendel really is paying road.cc a small fortune (as chrisonatrike suggested before) which is why there has been silence...
The TQ HPR50 motor is so small that is must be rattling around inside that huge bottom bracket area. I suppose it is some kind of inflection point...
I use a cat ear. I'm profoundly deaf in the right hand side, and it helps with all round awarness with just the one ear.