Garda Sergeant Andrew O'Riordan killed in car and tree collision at Broadford, Co Clare
Garda Sergeant Andrew O'Riordan, a man in his 50s with 28 years' service based at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick, was pronounced dead at the scene after a car he was a passenger in struck a tree on the R466 at Gortnaglogh, just outside Broadford, Co Clare, at around 5.30pm on Sunday 26 July 2026. The driver was injured, airlifted to University Hospital Limerick, and has since been discharged. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the scene, and investigations are ongoing. His funeral Mass was held at St. Peter's Church, Broadford, on Friday 31 July 2026.
- Reported27 Jul
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A car struck a tree and Sgt Andrew O'Riordan, who was a passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The driver was injured, airlifted to University Hospital Limerick, and has since been discharged.
- Where
- The collision occurred on the R466 at Gortnaglogh, just outside Broadford village, Co Clare.
- When
- The collision occurred at around 5.30pm on Sunday 26 July 2026.
- Other details
- Sgt O'Riordan was a Garda Sergeant with 28 years' service, based at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick, and was a married father of five.
- He was a fluent French speaker, had been deployed to help police the Paris Olympics in 2024, and was the first English speaker to complete the course at the French police academy.
- His funeral Mass was held at St. Peter's Church, Broadford, on Friday 31 July 2026 at noon.
- Investigation
- Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the R466 at Gortnaglogh, and investigations are ongoing.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was a passenger in a car that struck a tree just outside Broadford (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was pronounced dead at the scene (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver was injured and airlifted to University Hospital Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver has since been discharged (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA car struck a tree. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSgt O'Riordan was a passenger in the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver was injured and airlifted to University Hospital Limerick, and has since been discharged. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was a fluent French speaker and had been deployed to help police the Paris Olympics in 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe was based at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision occurred on the R466 at Gortnaglogh, just outside Broadford village, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at around 5.30pm (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision happened at around 5.30pm on Sunday 26 July 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHis funeral Mass was held at St. Peter's Church, Broadford, on Friday 31 July 2026 at noon. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the R466 at Gortnaglogh (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the R466 at Gortnaglogh. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was a fluent French speaker (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had been deployed to help police the Paris Olympics in 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was a native of Blarney, Co Cork (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis parents are Pat and Kathleen (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis sister is named Joanne (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was the first English speaker to complete the course at the French police academy (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jul2026Funeral details announced for garda father-of-5 killed in horror collision
Announces funeral details for Sgt O'Riordan, confirms he was a passenger in the car that struck a tree, provides background on his 28 years' service, French language skills, and deployment to the Paris Olympics, and notes Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage from the R466 at Gortnaglogh.
victim, Andrew O'Riordan, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Andrew O'Riordan - 27 Jul2026Tributes paid to garda sergeant killed in a road collision while off duty
Adds tributes from colleagues and AGSI, details about his 28 years' service, his French language skills and deployment to police the Paris Olympics in 2024, his year at the French police academy in 2023, his family details (wife Stephanie, parents Pat and Kathleen, sister Joanne), the driver's injury and discharge, and the Garda appeal for witnesses and dash-cam footage.
victim, Andrew O'Riordan, 50s, male, irish (judged from name)Andrew O'Riordan