Paraic Coffey - Fatal Hit and Run Collision in Kells, 09/06/96

Paraic Coffey was only eighteen-years old when he was fatally injured by a vehicle while walking home from a disco sometime after 3am on the morning of 9 June 1996. Paraic was walking home to Rathcairn, Athboy from the Darnely Lodge Hotel on the Dunderry Rd when the collision occurred. 

A local taxi driver had passed Paraic walking on the road and had observed a small dark coloured car approaching him from the opposite direction at 3.05am. A couple came across Paraic on the roadway seriously injured minutes later. He was removed to hospital by ambulance, and was pronounced dead on arrival. 

It has been 25 years since Paraic’s tragic death and despite a prolonged Garda investigation, there has been no closure for the Coffey family. To date nobody has been prosecuted for Paraic’s death. 

Garda appeal:

• Do you have any information relating to this case that may bring it to a conclusion? Gardaí would like to assure those that have information and for whatever reason have not previously come forward, that they will be treated sensitively.
• A lot of people who were teenagers and young adults 25 years ago, now have families of their own and would have a deeper understanding of the unbearable loss that the Coffey family have suffered and their continued search for answers.
• The nature of this incident would have resulted in damage to the vehicle involved and Gardaí want to appeal to anyone who remember a family member/friend having unexplained damage to their car or perhaps someone who was asked to carry out repairs in circumstances that seemed strange or suspicious.
• Gardaí want to ask people to look inside themselves and ask one question: Is there anything I can say that may in some way be important to this case?
• Gardaí want to speak to the person or persons directly involved in the incident that led to the death of Paraic. It is not too late to come forward and explain what happened and bring closure for yourself and the Coffey family. 

Gardaí at Kells Garda Station are investigating tel: (046) 928 0820