Avoca killing: Victim was struck by car

A man who died after a pub row over a football match was struck by a car after being punched to the ground, it was revealed today.

Brian “Brier” Doyle, 48, fell onto the main street in Avoca, Co Wicklow, when he was assaulted during a heated argument about the Liverpool v Everton match on Sunday.

A full post-mortem examination of the victim’s remains has confirmed claims he was hit by a car as he lay on the road outside Fitzgerald’s pub, known to television viewers as the backdrop to the hit series 'Ballykissangel'.

Investigating gardaí are appealing to motorists who drove through the small picturesque village around 9pm that night to contact them.

In particular, they are looking to speak to the driver of a four-wheel drive vehicle or SUV believed to have passed the scene around that time who may have seen the attack.

Gardaí stressed they are not connecting that driver to the incident but want to speak to them about what they may have witnessed.

Technical experts have carried out a forensic examination of a number of vehicles in the village that night.

Officers have also interviewed several people who had been drinking in the bar on Sunday evening.

Bachelor Mr Doyle, who lived at Kilmagig in Avoca, was among customers in Fitzgerald’s watching the Merseyside Premier League derby earlier in the day.

It is thought he was thumped and collapsed onto the street during a fall-out with a rival fan after stepping outside for a cigarette.

A female passer-by discovered his body a short time later.

Emergency services were called to the scene but attempts to resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful.