The man whose body was recovered from a river fell into the water while allegedly trying to hide from gardai, it has emerged.
The Irish Mirror can reveal that investigators believe Craig Gifford had been injured when the car he was driving crashed into a barrier close to Dublin’s M50 motorway last Wednesday — shortly after it had come to the attention of gardai.
It’s understood Mr Gifford (21) was injured in the single vehicle crash but managed to escape gardai.
He is believed to have hidden in undergrowth on the banks of the River Tolka in a bid to escape gardai who were searching for him — but he then fell into the water and drowned.
Gardai mounted a major search for Mr Gifford, from nearby Finglas, after he crashed a car he was driving close to the junction of River Road and Dunsink Lane in north Dublin at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Sources say investigators believe Mr Gifford managed to free himself from the car and escape before gardai got to the scene.
A source told the Irish Mirror: “He went legging it into the undergrowth after the crash.
“The belief is he was trying to hide from gardai who went to the scene.
“Gardai searched the area on foot and the helicopter was deployed to look for him from the air.
“But there was no sign of him.”
Officers then put out a missing persons appeal for Mr Gifford and said they and his family were concerned for his wellbeing.
They also called in specialist divers from the Garda Water Unit who searched the stretch of the River Tolka close to the crash scene — and they recovered Mr Gifford’s body on Saturday afternoon.
His death has now been handed over to policing watchdog GSOC for investigation as he had an interaction with gardai before the crash.
The organisation started its investigation after a Section 102 referral from Garda bosses.
That section provides for independent investigation of any matter that appears to indicate that the conduct of a Garda may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.
A spokesman for GSOC last night appealed for witnesses and anyone with video footage of the crash to come forward.
Gardai also confirmed the death of Mr Gifford had been referred to GSOC as he had had an interaction with members of the force shortly before his death.
Friends paid tribute to Mr Gifford online last night.
Jennie Lawlor, from the Finglas West Summer Project, said: “I’m sure I speak for all of us leaders on Finglas West Summer Project, Craig was such a friendly, caring and fun loving kid during his time on the projects every year.
“Even as a young man he wouldn’t pass by without saying ‘hello’.
“Thinking of his family and friends at this heart-breaking time.”
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