Gardaí: Hit-and-run van driver has fled country

Gardaí say the hit-and-run driver who killed a young Frenchman in Cork City has fled the country.

A senior garda has confirmed they know the identity of the driver of a white Ford Transit-type van which hit Gabriel Jean Lege, 25, while he was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing at George’s Quay on Halloween night.

Supt Barry McPolin, who is leading the Garda investigation, said the man they are pursuing is Irish, from Cork, and in his early 30s.

Supt McPolin said that, even though the suspect had “left the jurisdiction”, it was “still not too late” for the man to come back “and present himself at a Garda station” or at least contact Anglesea Street Garda Station, where a special incident room has been set up.

Mr Lege, who had lived in a city-centre flat in Cork for a couple of years, worked with Apple in Hollyhill. He was hit by the van at 9.30pm on Oct 31 and was initially attended to by some volunteer first-responders.

Mr Lege was taken to Cork University Hospital, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Lege’s mother, sister and brother arrived Cork a few days ago and were yesterday preparing to fly his body back for burial in his home town of Olonne-sur-Mer in the Loire region.

Meanwhile, a 52-year-old woman who was knocked down near her home in Cobh, Co Cork, at around 8.30am last Sunday is making a recovery in hospital.

A local man in his 30s was arrested and a file is being prepared for the DPP.