Gardai are appealing for information after a 50-year-old man died from injuries he sustained while trying to prevent the theft of his car in Dublin.
The incident happened on the Robinhood Road in Clondalkin at around 6.15pm last Sunday evening, 23 January.
Gardaí say investigations have established that Ian McDonnell had intervened to stop his grey coloured 161 OY 1861 registered Volkswagen Passat from being stolen from his business premises.
During the attempt to prevent the theft, he was carried on the bonnet of the car for a distance, before he was later found lying on the roadway with "serious life-threatening injuries".
He was taken by ambulance to Tallaght University Hospital, where he passed away yesterday evening.
A post mortem was due to be carried out today.
The stolen grey coloured Volkswagen Passat was found on Limekiln Green in Greenhills yesterday and will be forensically examined.
A second vehicle was also involved in the incident.
A silver coloured Toyota Aqua registration number 152 D 32687, which was stolen in the Crumlin area on the afternoon of 23 January, was located burnt out in Ballinascorney in Tallaght on Tuesday.
The car will also be forensically examined for evidence.
Gardaí say significant progress has been made to date in the investigation "including interviewing of witnesses, door-to-door enquiries and harvesting of CCTV images."
However, gardaí in Clondalkin are appealing for the public's assistance in tracing the movement of the cars.
(Credit: Damien Storan Photography)
Officers are "anxious to hear from anyone who may have been in the Robinhood Road area of Clondalkin on the evening of Sunday 23 January, between 5.30pm and 7pm, and who may have witnessed any activity which drew their attention or who may have any video dash cam footage".
Gardaí are also seeking information about where the grey coloured Volkswagen Passat, registration number 161 OY 1861, was between last Sunday and yesterday.
They are also appealing for assistance in establishing the movements of the silver coloured Toyota Aqua, registration number 152 D 32687, between last Sunday and Tuesday.
"Investigating gardaí are looking for any information on where either car was parked up at any location, or was either vehicle seen in any petrol station or at any other location over those days."
Anyone who may have seen either of the cars in the vicinity of Ballymount, Walkinstown, Tallaght, Kylemore Road or Ballyfermot between 6.30pm and 9pm on Sunday, 23 January, is asked to come forward.
A family liaison officer has been appointed to Ian McDonnell's family and Gardai have offered their sympathies "to his wife, children and extended family and friends at this time."
Gardaí can be contacted at Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Tributes to father-of-three
Ian McDonnell, a married father of two daughters and a son, lived in the Lucan area of Dublin.
He was originally from the west of Ireland.
In Lucan today, tributes were being paid to the 50-year-old.
Ed O'Brien, a local Fianna Fáil councillor, said "the overwhelming sense is of shock" in the area, following the death of Mr McDonnell.
He said "Lucan, despite its growth, is a small tight-knit community and all our thoughts and prayers are with Ian's family at the moment".
Cllr O'Brien said the incident has "really hit the community very, very hard".
"I think the suddenness of it is really the most shocking bit of it. You know, he would have left his family that day and thought nothing of that."
He said Ian McDonnell was very well known around the Lucan area and he said he has been described as "a very sociable guy and a very likeable guy".
"All of his friends will be coming to terms with this, having heard the news over the last 24 hours, and they will share the shock and grief for the family."
