Ombudsman investigating as woman dies in Cork road incident after exiting Garda car

Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, is investigating after a woman died following a garda interaction in Mallow

The referral was made by a Garda superintendent under section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024.

A woman has died after exiting a garda patrol car and being struck by a passing vehicle in Mallow, Co Cork, on Tuesday evening.

The woman had been reported to gardaí as being in distress earlier in the day.

It is understood she was single and in her late 30s or early 40s.

At about 5.20pm, gardaí received a call about a woman in distress in Mallow town. They responded and brought her to her family home in an effort to assist her.

However, she got out of the patrol car and was tragically hit by a passing vehicle.

The scene outside Mallow town has been sealed off for a forensic investigation, and the incident has been referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman.

The referral was made by a Garda superintendent under Section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

This section states that any matter involving Garda personnel which results in death or serious harm must be referred without delay to the Garda Ombudsman.

"The referral was made following a fatal road incident during a garda interaction in the County Cork Division," a Fiosrú spokesperson said.

An investigator from Fiosrú attended the scene.

"The team have and will continue to engage with the family concerned," the spokesperson said.