TRIBUTES are being paid to an elderly pedestrian who died following a fatal road traffic collision on Sunday night.
The man has been named locally as Paddy Mulhall, 77, from Crannagh near Stradbally in Co Laois, close to the border with Co Carlow.
The fatal road collision occurred on the N80 at Crannagh, Stradbally on Sunday night, February 23.
Gardai said the collision involving Mr Mulhall and a car happened at around 10.45pm on a section of the N80 outside Stradbally.
He was pronounced deceased a short time later and was removed to Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.
A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
A woman who was driving the car, aged in her 30s, was not injured in the horror crash.
The road is currently closed pending an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators this morning.
Paying tribute local councillor Pascal McEvoy said there is widespread shock and sadness in the county at the news of Mr Mulhall’s death.
He added: “He was an absolute gent, liked by all and was well known by everyone. It is just an absolutely horrendous tragedy.
“He was always out and about and many people would have given him a lift to and from Portlaoise and Stradbally.”
Garda are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
A garda spokesperson said: “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N80 at Crannagh, Stradbally, Co. Laois between 10.30pm and 11pm yesterday, 23rd February 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
This is the second fatal incident involving a pedestrian and a vehicle in the last 48 hours in Co Laois.
On Saturday, February 22, five-year-old Aaron Hussain was killed following a collision in Kilminchy.
No funeral details have been revealed as yet.
