Gardaí still hunting French man’s hit-and-run killer

Gardaí are still actively investigating the hit-and-run death of a French national in Cork City more than two years ago.

Sgt Fergus Twomey told city coroner Myra Cullinane, yesterday that the investigation into Gabriel Jean Lege’s death in October 2013 is ongoing, and that gardaí are in regular contact with his family in France.

Mr Lege, 25, from Olonne-sur-Mer in the Vendée region in western France, died after he was struck by a white van which did not stop on Georges Quay at about 9.30pm on October 31, 2013.

The previously opened and adjourned inquest heard that Mr Lege died from haemorrhage and shock due to blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen, and brain injury, due to a road traffic accident.

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Gardaí seized a van and identified a suspect soon after the incident.

It is understood the driver of the van, who in his 30s and from Cork, left the jurisdiction shortly after and has been living in England since.

A dedicated Garda team is actively reviewing the case and monitoring the suspect’s movements. It is understood that he moves around England regularly and may also be using several aliases.

When Mr Lege’s inquest was in for mention at the coroner’s court again yesterday, Sgt Twomey applied for a further adjournment until November while the garda investigation continues.

The coroner granted the adjournment and put the inquest back for mention again in November.

Mr Lege had been living in Cork for several years before his death. He worked for Apple at its Hollyhill plant.

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