A MAJOR Garda manhunt was continuing for the driver of a car in which a loaded gun was found after it was involved in a fatal road crash.
The fatal collision occurred on the N21, between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West, County Limerick, at around 11pm Monday night.
Three cars were involved in the road traffic collision in which a man in his 30s died.
The deceased was a passenger in one of the cars, in which a firearm and ammunition was recovered by Gardaí. The driver of this vehicle fled the fatal scene on foot and was still at large on Tuesday.
Gardaí were making enquiries to try to determine the man’s identity. Specialist Garda units were investigating the background of the firearm.
A statement released by the Garda Press Office said that Gardaí and emergency services attended the fatal scene which “involved three cars and occurred at approximately 11.00pm” June 8.
“The male passenger of the first car, aged in his 30s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been conveyed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course,” Gardaí said.
“The coroner has been notified. The driver of the first car left the scene on foot and Gardaí are seeking to identify this person.”
Gardaí said the driver and passenger of the second vehicle, “a man in his 60s and a woman in her 70s” were treated at the scene for “non-life-threatening injuries” and that a “female driver of the third car, aged in her 60s, was also treated at the scene” for minor injuries.
The N21 road remained closed pending a technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators with local diversions in place.
Appealing for witnesses, Gardaí said: “Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N21 from Newcastle West towards Abbeyfeale, County Limerick between 11pm and 11.30pm on Monday 8th June 2026 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 20 650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station, Gardaí added.