A man in his 60s has died after he was struck by a taxi in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in the early hours of St Patrick's Day.
Another male pedestrian (60s) was left seriously injured following the incident on Lower Main Street at 3am. He has since been airlifted to University Hospital Galway.
The vehicle also collided with a house causing some minor damage.
The driver of the car, a male aged in his late teens, was arrested at the scene, and remains in Garda custody.
The incident has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission due to an earlier interaction between gardaí and the driver.
As a mark of respect, the St Patrick's Day Parade in Letterkenny has been cancelled.
A statement from the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce said: “It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of today’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade following a serious traffic incident that occurred in the town early this morning.
“Following consultation with An Garda Síochána and in the interest of public safety, we have made the difficult decision not to proceed with the event. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the incident, we must prioritise the safety and well-being of our community and those attending. The parade route is directly affected, making it impossible to proceed as planned.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly in preparing for today’s event—our volunteers, participants, local businesses, and supporters. Your dedication and effort do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate your commitment to bringing this celebration to life.
“We understand this will be disappointing news for many, but we appreciate your understanding and support during this time.”
Gardaí have sealed off the area for a technical exam by investigators. They are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
In particular, gardaí are appealing to anybody who was in the area between Dry Arch Roundabout and Oldtown Road between 2.30am and 3.30am on Monday morning.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on (074) 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
