Leighandmerriman Angels

this page is for leigh and merriman who we lost on the 2nd of march 2008we miss and love yas so much
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full story of how these two boys got taken to heaven >A GARDA caught up in a New Year's road car
fatality was critically ill last night after his vehicle was involved in a collision on a busy dual
carriageway yesterday.

He was seriously injured after two youths drove to their deaths down the wrong side of the N7 in
Citywest, Dublin yesterday.

In a macabre turn of events, the garda had been involved in a crash on New Year's Day which killed
one of their cousins.

The deaths of the two young men brought to eight the number who lost their lives on the roads over
the weekend.

Last night, it emerged that the garda was involved in a New Year's Day collision which claimed the
life of Dublin teenager Philip Hogarty, who was on his way home after a night out.

One of the men who died on the N7 yesterday -- 18-year-old Lee Mooney -- was related to tragic
Philip.

The garda, who is likely to be cleared of any blame in connection with Mr Hogarty's death, was not
believed to be at fault for yesterday's incident.

It is understood the 27-year-old garda was on his way home to Naas at 6am after finishing his shift
at Tallaght station when a car -- driven on the wrong side of the motorway -- hit his vehicle
head-on.

The other deaths on a weekend of carnage included the tragedy in Castletownbere, Co Cork, where a
car plunged into water and three men were killed.

So far this year 63 people have died, eight more than in the same period last year.

Philip Hogarty was the first person to die on the nation's roads this year, and last night his
grieving mother said the coincidence had devastated the family.

Although it is just eight weeks since her son died, Kay Byrne said her thoughts were with the family
of the seriously injured garda.

Speaking with her partner, John Murray, at her home, the sobbing mother said she could not bring
herself to visit Lee's body in Tallaght Hospital mortuary yesterday.

She said Lee's mother Caroline -- her second cousin -- is distraught and is being consoled at her
home in Clondalkin.

"First Phil, and now this," she said. "It's just horrible."

"It's just eight weeks since Phil died. We can't believe it's the same garda and he is just a young
man."

She said that Philip and Lee had not really known each other, as they were part of a large family.

Only yesterday, she was at an event held by Philip's chess club in Banratty, where a trophy was
presented in his honour.

The teen was knocked down as he made his way home after celebrating the New Year.

The chairman of the Irish Chess Union, he died in hospital the day after the accident from his
injuries.

"I couldn't go down to Tallaght Hospital today. It would be like seeing Phil all over again.

Tragic

"I wish the garda well. It's tragic for him and his family as well," said Kay Byrne.

The Garda Press Office said his condition was serious, but not life-threatening.

The Garda Ombudsman took over the investigation because of the involvement of a member of the force,
but handed it back to gardai after establishing that the two men -- aged 19 and 20 -- had travelled
the wrong way down the motorway.

"This decision follows a technical and forensic examination of the scene as well as independent
witness accounts", an Ombudsman spokesman said.

It is understood the men, driving a Fiat Punto, turned the wrong way down a slip road at either
Rathcoole or Citywest before entering the N7.

They travelled some 400 metres on the southbound side before crashing head-on into the garda's Honda
car, which was coming from Dublin.

It is believed the other man is from Palmerstown, but his name was not released .