Gardai investigating the hit-and-run last Sunday morning in Co Kerry that claimed the life of father of four Paud O’Leary (pictured left) have issued a fresh appeal in their efforts to locate a Grey Toyota 4X4 believed to have been in the area at the time.
A Garda statement said the team of guards investigating the case is “particularly anxious” to speak to the driver of the 4X4 or anybody who might have seen it close to the spot where the dead man was killed as he was out training for the Ring of Kerry sportive next weekend.
The gardai believe the vehicle was in the area of Gneeveguilla between 7am and 10am on Sunday. The investigation is now focussed on finding the 4X4 and anyone with information is asked to contact Kanturk Garda station on (028) 20680 or the Garda confidential telephone line on 1 800 666 111.
The Garda statement said the public had already been very helpful with the investigation but urged more people to come forward to try and help solve the killing.
Mr O’Leary, a 42-year-old from Leamyglissance in Co Kerry, was found dead on the side of the road when people went out searching for him after he had failed to return from his training ride. It is believed he may have been lying dead in a ditch for several hours before he was found.
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Mr O’Leary left his house to go training at around 8am on Sunday. He was later found on the roadway having been knocked off his bike at Scrahan Fada, just over 10 miles from Killarney.
The exact time of his death is not known but gardai said the dead man could have been struck by a vehicle as early as 8.15am on Sunday, though he was not found until closer to lunchtime.
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His wife became concerned when he did not arrive back at their home when expected and a group of local people then decided to go out looking for him.
Mr O’Leary, who was best known in the area for his involvement in Gneeveguilla GAA Club, was preparing for the 180km Ring of Kerry sportive next weekend.
Gardai in Co Kerry on Sunday started a criminal investigation into the hit-and-run that took Mr O’Leary’s life.
The guards in the area believe somebody local must know who was driving the vehicle that hit Mr O’Leary and then left the scene. They have also said the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run is probably damaged and that people either living in the area or a little further away might have noticed unexplained damage to a vehicle of a person they know.
The guards initially issued an appeal looking for witnesses to contact them. They want to speak to any motorists who travelled to or from Killarney through Gneeveguilla between 8am and 11am on Sunday.
Anybody who may have travelled the road at that time, or has other information, was asked to contact Kanturk Garda Station. That appeal has now been narrowed to try and find the Grey Toyota 4X4.
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