Motorcyclist killed in suspected hit-and-run had absconded from jail
A motorcycle is removed from the scene near Ballon in Co Carlow. Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke
A motorcyclist killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Carlow on Wednesday had absconded from an open prison last Saturday.
Tom Connors, aged 35, had been sentenced to three years for the unlawful taking of a vehicle and was approaching the end of his sentence.
He had only recently been transferred to Loughan House Open Centre prison in Co Cavan.
Mr Connors, who is understood to have a young family and is from Bunclody in Co Wexford, had not been seen since he walked out of the prison on April 20.
At around 11pm on Wednesday night, however, he was involved with a collision with a car.
While Mr Connors was found on the ground at the gates to a private house on the narrow Co Carlow road where the incident happened, the car involved was found in flames a few yards away.
The incident happened around 11pm on Wednesday on a local road between Rathoe and Cunaberry, near the village of Ballon.
Shortly after it happened, gardaí and other emergency services are understood to have been called by the house owner at whose front gates the motorcyclist was found.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said the road where the incident happened is so remote that only locals would be likely to use it, or even know it existed.
However, they added: “We have not heard of anybody locally being involved in the collision.
“It’s not exactly a well-known shortcut to anywhere but it is a very narrow road, and it would generally only be used by locals.
A Garda spokesperson said: “The car involved was found burnt out at the location, and the occupants of the car failed to remain at the scene.
“All the circumstances of this incident are being investigated."
The body of the deceased was removed after a full forensic and technical examination was carried out.
The local coroner and Office of the State Pathologist have been notified, and an autopsy will be arranged.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station.
“Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward," said the spokesperson.
“Road users with camera footage, including dash-cam, who were travelling on the road between Rathoe and Ballon or in the surrounding areas between 10pm and midnight on Wednesday, April 24, are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.”
Anyone with information regarding this collision is urged to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059 913 6620, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
