Gardaí investigating fatal Limerick crash believe men had come from Sweden to carry out hit

The deceased was the passenger in the car while a man now on the run was the driver

Gardaí are keen to establish where the men had been staying in the days before the incident. File picture: Liam McBurney/PA

Gardaí investigating the death of a man in a car crash in Limerick on Monday night believe he and an accomplice now on the run had arrived recently from Sweden to carry out a hit somewhere in Munster.

Investigators are trying to establish if the man on the run is staying with acquaintances, or in hotels, guesthouses, or short-term let properties until he believes it is safe to try to flee the country.

Gardaí are also keen to establish where the men had been staying in the days before the incident.

The men were in one of three vehicles which were in a collision on the N21 between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West, Co Limerick, on Monday at approximately 11pm.

The dead man, who was in his 30s, was the passenger in the car while the missing man was the driver.

A gun was recovered from the car in which the men were travelling and is being analysed.

It is understood that the dead man was wanted for questioning about murders in Sweden, and one line of investigation is that he may have been hired to come to Ireland to carry out a hit on somebody as retaliation in a feud.

Gardaí have not confirmed whether either man had come to Ireland previously, or whether they have any close contacts here who would be willing to shelter the driver.

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying one of the vehicles involved in the fatal road traffic collision on the N21, between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West on June 8.

Attention on the ports and airports has as yet not shown any indicator that he has left the country.

An autopsy was carried out on the remains at University Hospital Limerick, and plans for the man’s repatriation are being made by his family.

While the man on the run has not been named and a description of him has not been given out by gardaí, it is understood that investigators believe they know his identity.

It is not known if he is armed.

A Garda source said that the focus is heavily on the car in which the men were travelling, to help progress their investigation — a Seat Leon with registration plate KV12-KHP.

It is believed the car was in the Kerry, Limerick, and Cork North areas between Sunday and Monday.

The source said: “We are still working on the history of the car — that has not been bottomed out yet.” 

It is understood that the enquiries include whether the car was hired.

• Investigators have appealed to road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, and who were travelling on the N21 from Newcastle West towards Abbeyfeale between 11pm and 11.30pm on June 8 to make that footage available to gardaí.
• Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 20650, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.