Hit-and-run widow in emotional plea for driver to come forward

The widow of a man who was killed in a hit-and-run incident almost four months ago has issued an emotional appeal for the driver to come forward.

Heartbroken Margaret O’Leary fought back tears yesterday as she pleaded for anyone with information about her husband Paud’s death on the Cork-Kerry border to contact gardaí.

“That person made the decision to leave the accident scene and they will have to live with that,” she said.

“But nobody is an island and that jeep did not just disappear. That person must have spoken to somebody.”

Mr O’Leary was training for a charity cycle when he was struck by a vehicle near the village of Gneeveguilla, Co Kerry, on Jul 1. He was left to die on the roadside.

The alarm was raised when he failed to return home. His family began searching the local area and his body was found by his brother-in-law at 1.15pm, less than 500m on the Gneeveguilla side of Paddy O’Keeffe’s shop.

Gardaí believe the hit and run happened between 5am and 8am and that a charcoal grey Toyota Land Cruiser, registered between 2002 and 2010, was involved.

But, despite a major investigation, the vehicle which would have suffered extensive damage to the front right side, and its driver, have not been traced.

The jeep could have been taken out of the country but gardaí have also considered that it may have been hidden, dismantled or even buried.

Insp Tony Sugrue said investigating officers are satisfied that the vehicle travelled to the Duhallow area after the incident.

“The key to solving this lies in the Duhallow area,” he said.

Ms O’Leary said her husband was devoted to his children, Shannon, Antoinette, Paudie and Ross and that their lives have been “turned upside down” since his death.

“It’s a struggle every day but, with the help of God, this exposure will bring closure to what happened on Jul 1,” she said.

“We miss him so much and we’d love to understand what happened, and why. There’s a lot of questions unanswered.

“That person [the driver] is out there and aware of what happened and can fill in the blanks for us.

“That person will continue to have a life and will perhaps have to pay a penalty that the law decides.

“That person’s family will still have that person in their lives. We don’t have Paud in our lives. It’s an awful situation.

“We’d love closure in that aspect of it — how he was left in a ditch on the road, out of sight and out of view.”

Her appeal came after Crimestoppers offered a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for her husband’s death.

* Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 1800 250025 or Kanturk gardaí on 029-20680.