Crash death 'linked to car hijacking'

A man has died in a car crash close to where a gang of robbers hijacked a vehicle, it has emerged.

Gardaí have launched an investigation after a Garda patrol car was rammed in Co Monaghan as officers tried to block robbers.

Gardaí at Aclint in Co Monaghan stopped a jeep, which was used to ram a premises at Broomfield, as the vehicle occupants attempted to flee the scene.

The Garda patrol car was rammed in the incident, which happened between 5am and 6am today.

Both vehicles were seriously damaged.

The three men escaped from their jeep and hijacked a car at Aclint. Gardaí said they made off towards Ardee in Co Louth.

Gardaí at Drogheda Station later came across a fatal traffic accident on the link road between Ardee and the M1 motorway.

It is believed the two incidents are linked.

The single-vehicle accident in which one man died and another was seriously injured was discovered at around 7am today.

Both men, who have not yet been identified, were taken to Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.