Search for young Irishman after hit-and-run in Spain

SPANISH police were searching for a young Irishman last night after a Swede was left fighting for his life following a hit-and-run incident.

The incident is said to have happened early yesterday morning in the Alicante region and is alleged to have been sparked by a row at a disco.

An Irishman living in the area, who did not wish to be named, alleged that the Swede had earlier intervened in a dispute in the disco between the driver and a young woman.

He alleged that eyewitnesses had reported that the Swede had also been assaulted. The Swede later left the disco and was standing on the side of the road when a car sped up towards him and knocked him down.

The source said that “a good bit of blood still remained on the road” last night.

He added that the injured man, who was in his late 20s or early 30s, had sustained very serious injuries, especially to his legs and arms.

Revellers spilling out of the nightclub went to the injured man’s aid and stayed with him until the emergency services arrived a short time later.

Spanish police are understood to have interviewed the young woman — also believed to be Irish — who was alleged to have been assaulted in the disco by the car driver.

The man police are said to be looking for is in his mid to late 20s and understood to be originally from the Cork area, although he has lived in Spain for some time.

The Irish source, who has been living in Orihuela for a number of years, said the incident had shocked people in the normally tranquil holiday resort.

Gardaí said last night that their Spanish counterparts had not yet contacted them seeking their assistance with the investigation.