A teenager died after the car he was travelling in was involved in a head-on crash in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The 16-year-old, named locally as Johnny Foley, was one of five teens in the car when the accident happened on the M8 near Mitchelstown in Cork at around 1am.
Officers are investigating whether the vehicle, which had earlier been reported to gardai as stolen, was on the wrong side of the motorway.
READ MORE - Teenager killed in horror M8 crash named locally as Johnny Foley
The victim, who was from the Cork city area, is understood to have been a passenger in the vehicle.
The driver of the car, a male youth, as well as three passengers, an adult male, a male youth, and a female youth, were being treated at Cork University Hospital yesterday with injuries that have been described as non-life threatening.
A woman in her 30s, who is believed to have been on her way home from work, was driving the other vehicle and suffered serious injuries.
It’s understood the car the teenagers were travelling in had an interaction with gardai shortly before the fatal collision.
The incident has been referred to the Garda Ombudsman for a full investigation.
Gardai have called for any potential witnesses to come forward.
They said: "Gardai are appealing to anyone with information to come forward to them.
"Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video footage (including dash-cam) is asked to contact Gardaí.
"Gardai can be contacted at Mitchelstown Garda Station on 025 84833, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
A spokeswoman for GSOC said: "GSOC received a referral from An Garda Siochana on 1 July 2023, following a road traffic collision in the Mitchelstown area of Cork that took place in the early hours of the morning.
"The referral was made by a Garda superintendent under section 102(1) of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005.
"The matter is now under examination by GSOC further to section 91 of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005. No further comment will be made at this time." Section 102(1) of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005 provides for the referral to GSOC by An Garda Siochana of "any matter that appears…to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Siochana may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person".
Section 91 of the Garda Siochana Act provides for the examination by GSOC of the circumstances of a referral or complaint with a view to recommending what further investigative measures may be required.
Cork councillor Frank O’Flynn called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to put warning signs in place on the road.
Mr O’Flynn said: "My thoughts go out to the family of the male teenager who has died and I also wish those injured a speedy recovery.
"I am taking it up with Transport Infrastructure Ireland as they are responsible for the road and this is happening too often."
Tributes poured in for the victim on social media yesterday, one wrote: "Please Johnny come back, you were my best friend.
"God always takes away the best. I’m lost for words today. Rest in peace my best friend."
A relative posted on Facebook: "RIP Johnny cuz, loved and missed brother. Only fresh home you were and was only talking to you yesterday about going to the gym. What is this world coming to?
"The legends never die, taken too young from this world.Johnny you’ll get a proper send off."
While another posted: "Can’t believe I am writing this.
"RIP my beautiful nephew Johnny, you are going to be missed so much. OUR JOHNNY, we all love you so much and our hearts are breaking. Sleep tight kid."
