Man freed after pensioner hit-and-run death

A man questioned by gardaí in relation to the suspected hit-and-run death of a pensioner in Co Cork was released last night.

Gardaí said Mary Josephine McCarthy, 83, was struck by a car outside her home in Main Street, Castlemartyr, at 7am yesterday. The vehicle failed to stop.

A local man in his 50s was later arrested in connection with the incident after he visited Midleton Garda Station.

However, a Garda spokesman said he was released without charge at 11.30pm last night and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The elderly victim was rushed to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries after the incident and remained in a critical condition until she died yesterday afternoon.

Witnesses had described the car as small and dark in colour.