Rugby official fights for life following hit and run

AN Irish rugby official was fighting for his life in a Canadian hospital last night after suffering critical injuries in a hit and run.

Dolphin fixtures secretary Val Murphy, 69, who is well-known in Irish rugby circles, underwent neurosurgery yesterday following the horrific incident.

His friend and Dolphin colleague, Michael O’Riordan, the current secretary, was also struck by the car as the men were walking back to their hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr O’Riordan, 53, from Templehill, Carrigrohane, Co Cork, was discharged from hospital yesterday having been treated for soft tissue injuries.

Early yesterday, Mr Murphy’s wife Renee, and other members of her family arrived in Montreal and have since maintained a bedside vigil.

Mr Murphy, a retired army officer from Rochestown Road, was understood to have suffered a heart attack as a result of what police said was a “violent impact” with the BMW in front of Concordia University’s downtown campus.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and is facing hit-and-run charges .

The men, who travelled to Montreal with Dolphin for a local tournament this week, were heading back to their hotel from McKibbon’s Pub on Bishop Street at about 3:30am Sunday when they were hit by a grey BMW travelling west on de Maisonneuve Boulevard.

Witnesses said they saw the car speed away after the accident.

Montreal police Constable Ian Lafrenière said “the car was moving very fast.” There were unconfirmed reports that the driver had sped through a red light.

Members of the Montreal Irish Rugby Football Club women’s division, who witnessed the accident, called 911. “They acted fast to get help and then talked to police,” one witness said.

Working from their description, police were able to track the car to a nearby high-rise apartment on St Mathieu Street where yesterday police obtained a warrant to seize the vehicle, parked in a basement garage and covered with a blanket, apparently to conceal damage caused by the accident.

The police spokesman said: “There are impact marks on the bumper and the windshield.”

The car was to be taken to a forensics lab for testing. The driver, who was placed under arrest, will be charged with hit-and-run causing injury and fleeing the scene of an accident, among other charges.

Three passengers who were in the car were being questioned yesterday and they could face charges of complicity after the fact, police said.

Despite the accident, Dolphin played a scheduled game on Sunday afternoon.