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Garda arrested in connection with death of popular Louth GAA coach Niall MacEneaney

Niall MacEneaney was a former Louth hurling player.

© Drogheda Independent

A member of An Garda Siochana has been arrested and questioned by GSOC in connection with the hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of popular Drogheda man, Niall MacEneaney, in the early hours of March 17.

The officer has since been released without charge, but remains suspended from duties.

Emergency services were called to the Rathmullen Road in Drogheda shortly after 2.30am on St Patrick’s Day, after a pedestrian was discovered seriously injured.

Gardaí confirmed the vehicle involved had failed to remain at the scene and Mr MacEneaney was pronounced dead a short time later.

As part of follow-up inquiries, gardaí recovered a vehicle of interest and conducted technical and forensic examinations.

The crash did not involve an official patrol car and it was later confirmed that a garda had been suspended.

In a statement, GSOC confirmed that an officer was subsequently arrested and interviewed.

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“GSOC received a referral from An Garda Síochána on the 17 March 2024, following a road traffic incident in Drogheda 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 Síochána Act, 2005.

“The matter is now under investigation by GSOC further to section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

“As part of the investigation a person has been arrested and interviewed.

“GSOC’s investigation remains ongoing. As such, no further comment will be made at this time.”

Tributes were paid to Mr MacEneaney at his funeral in Drogheda. Affectionately known as Trigger, his death was deeply mourned by his wife Grace, his parents, family, friends and teammates.

Mr MacEneaney hurled and coached within Drogheda club Wolfe Tones until they folded.

He played for Louth for many years and was corner-forward on the team that reached the inaugural Nicky Rackard Cup final in 2005, scoring a point in the loss to London at Croke Park.

He later became an accomplished hurling coach and took the reins of St Fechin’s ahead of the 2022 season and helped the side to back-to-back championships as well as the 2022 Leinster junior club championship semi-final.