Big response to garda appeal over 1996 death

There has been a huge response to last week's Crimestoppers appeal for information into the death of Rath Chairn teenager, Paraic Ó Cofaigh, in a hit-and-run incident 16 years ago. According to Inspector Alf Martyn, gardai are very pleased with the response from members of the public. "There was a great outpouring of support from the public," he said. "It is early days still but we are quite pleased and are following up a whole series of information we received." The Garda Crimestoppers campaign is offering a reward for substantial information that would lead to charges being brought and the campaign has seen posters and leaflet drops carried out in the local area. Eighteen year-old Paraic Ó Cofaigh was walking home from a disco in the early hours of 9th June 1996 towards his home in Rath Chairn in the townland of Eighty-Eight Acres when he was struck by a vehicle which failed to stop. His body was subsequently discovered on the road by passers-by. The driver of the vehicle has never been apprehended and, to this day, his family have not had any closure as the person responsible has never been caught. His parents, Patrick and Judy, have joined the garda appeal for information to establish what happened that night. Inspector Martyn said: "There may be people out there who had information at the time and, for one reason or another, didn't come forward at the time, but who may now be prepared to shed some light on what happened." An incident room has been set up at Kells Garda Station and it can be contacted on (046) 928 0820 or members of the public can also call Crimestoppers (Freephone 1800 250 025) at any time. Callers will not be asked for their names.