Tragic garda risked his life in ‘fearless’ high-speed chase

THE garda killed in Sunday’s double road tragedy in Limerick risked his life in a high-speed chase during which a rock was smashed through his patrol car windscreen, it emerged yesterday.

In that 1996 incident, when he was stationed in Limerick city, Garda Brian Kelleher sped after a joy rider who had just knocked down a student garda and dragged him along a roadway under his car for more than 100 yards.

Garda Kelleher was on duty at Hyde Road with two colleagues, Garda Arthur Dennehy and student garda John Keating. He was driving their patrol car when they followed a stolen car.