Tributes for tragic dad Stephen Marron killed in Co Monaghan crash

Stephen Marron was tragically killed on Tuesday. Image: rip.ie

The dad of two was killed after a driver “fleeing” from gardai crashed into his parked car.

Tributes have begun to flow in for father of two from Stephen Marron, who died when an Audi A6 smashed into his Skoda Octavia on Tuesday night.

Mr. Marron was described as a “fantastic” person and a “devoted dad” yesterday by shocked locals in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

The tragic incident unfolded when a 34-year-old man from Armagh went into Castleblayney Garda station to get a form signed and an officer recognised him from a prior traffic offence.

The officer was then dragged for about 500 metres as he tried to stop the Skoda Octavia, before it hit Mr. Marron's parked car.

Mr Marron was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesterday, local people were “numb” and distraught as they spoke about the “travesty”.

Brendan Tavey of the nearby Tavey Brothers Menswear said: “Stephen was a nice fella, lovely fella, out doing his job, a great family man. His mother and father would be very respectable.

“It’s very hard – you’d see Stephen regularly and he was a very active member of the community.

“You’d see him every morning dropping the kids off at school and he’d often be there to pick them up as well. He was a devoted dad.

“He played with the Castleblayney hurling club for many years and he would have been involved in drama and things like that locally as well.

“People are shocked and numb today, they really are.

“It’s a close-knit community and people will rally around the family and try to offer whatever support they can.” Stephen was married to Helen and had two daughters aged nine and four.

Witnesses.

The injured officer Gda Michael Devlin, 31, was discharged from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth yesterday.

Local Councillor Aidan Campbell added: “The town’s numb, it’s just in shock so it is. I knew Stephen well. He was a great fella in the town, fantastic.

“I’d also like to say get well soon to the garda who was involved as well. It was an awful experience for him as well.”

Witnesses are asked to contact Carrickmacross Garda station on 042 9690190.

Officers would like to speak to a woman, in particular, who was amongst the first on the scene and came to Garda Devlin’s aide.