First pic of car thief who died in smash after stealing motor with teen in back

THIS IS the car thief who was killed in a horror smash after stealing a vehicle with a teenage girl in the back seat.

Dale Fogarty, who is in his 30s, died in the shocking crash on the N77 between Kilkenny city and Balraggett at 3.55pm on Friday afternoon.

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He was wearing no seatbelt and driving on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a second car, whose passengers were en route to a wedding reception.

The 16-year-old girl underwent surgery but her injuries are believed to be not life threatening.

The Irish Sun has learned that she was recovering from a recent serious operation at the time of Friday’s accident.

Fogarty jumped into the driver’s seat at about 3.30pm and drove at speed out of the city towards Ballyragget.

Eye-witnesses said the car was driving “recklessly and erratically” before it smashed into the second car.

Fogarty was removed from the scene and later pronounced dead at St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny.

The girl was taken by air ambulance to Waterford University Hospital with serious injuries. She was later transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin. As well as the spinal injury, she also suffered a broken pelvis and a broken arm.

The three occupants of the second car, a Skoda Zodiac, were taken to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny for medical treatment. One of them is believed to have suffered a serious spinal injury.

Their injuries are understood to be non-life threatening.

According to sources, the dead man was known to Gardai and is believed to have addiction issues. 

He’s suspected of being under the influence of substances at the time of his death but investigators will await the result of toxicology reports.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has promised that the gardaí will get all the extra resources they need to investigate the shocking abduction of the teenager and the fatal crash which killed Fogarty.

Speaking from the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Athlone, she said: “An investigation, or investigations are still ongoing. It was a really unusual and a really tragic incident.

“We have one individual who has passed away and we have a young woman who is critically ill and obviously we had another car with passengers who were also injured as well.

‘TERRIFYING FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED’

“I think we need to get to the bottom and understand exactly what is happening, what really was a very devastating incident to happen, full stop.

“I have no doubt it was terrifying for the people involved and for the young woman involved and if the gardaí need any support or help in their investigation, then obviously they will get all of the resources that they need.”

As part of the investigation, Gardaí are looking at the circumstances of the theft of a vehicle at Green Street, Kilkenny at approximately 3.30pm yesterday.

A garda spokesman said: “A female teenager was an occupant of the vehicle when it was stolen.

“This vehicle was subsequently involved in the fatal road traffic collision.”

APPEAL

The N77 between Hennebry’s Cross and Dinan Bridge remained closed on Friday night, and the services of Forensic Collision Investigators have been requested.

Local diversions via the Castlecomer Road were put in place following the smash.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to either of these incidents to come forward to assist them with their ongoing investigations.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N77 between Kilkenny town and Ballyragget between 3.15pm and 4pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Gardaí are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Green Street area of Kilkenny between 3pm and 3:30pm to make this footage available to them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.