Motorcyclist killed in suspected Carlow hit-and-run had fled open prison days ago

It is understood Tom Connors (35) was serving a three-year prison sentence for the unlawful taking of a vehicle.

He had been in Loughan House open prison for less than two weeks after being transferred from a closed prison, and it is understood he was approaching the end of his sentence.

Connors, from Bunclody, Co Wexford, went missing from the open prison on Saturday, April 20.

Connors, who was a father with a young family, was involved in the incident on a local road at Sandbrook, between Rathoe and Ballon in Co Carlow at 11pm last night.

Gardaí are searching for the occupants of the car believed to have been involved in the crash and which was found burnt out at the same location.

Connors was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardaí said the occupants of the car had fled by the time they and emergency services arrived shortly before 11pm.

Carlow Garda Superintendent Anthony Farrell said gardaí are currently trying to ascertain the route the motorcycle took before the collision.

"The motorcycle involved is a key focus of the Garda investigation. It's a black Honda motorcycle with a partial registration of 03WW,” he said.

"The Garda investigation has discovered that this vehicle travelled alongside St Laurence O'Toole's running track on the Pollerton Road in Carlow towards Rathoe. The exact route taken by the driver is unknown."

Superintendent Farrell added that if anyone saw the motorcycle travelling on the Pollerton Road in Carlow towards Rathoe to come forward to Carlow Gardaí.

"If you were travelling in your own vehicle or in a taxi between the Pollerton Road in Carlow and Rathoe and have dashcam footage that might be of interest to the Garda investigation please come forward,” he said.

"Maybe you know someone who travels this route who can help or maybe you live alongside routes between St Laurence O'Toole's running track on the Pollerton Road in Carlow towards Rathoe or Ballon and have CCTV on your house facing the road that might be able to support the Garda investigation.

"Maybe you were in the area shortly before or after the collision overnight at about 10.30pm and have information that might assist the Garda investigation. If you can help in any way please contact An Garda Síochána incident room Carlow on 059 913 6620."

Road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were traveling on the road between Rathoe and Ballon or the in surrounding areas, between 10pm and midnight are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.