Ireland Case No. 5794Murder · Co. Dublin · 13 Apr 2017
Mother of man killed in 2017 Tallaght hit-and-run upset by inquest delays
On 13 April 2017, Stephen Lynch (31), a father of three from the Tallaght area, was struck by a vehicle at Brookfield Close estate in Tallaght and was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí opened a murder investigation after forming the view that he was deliberately run over by the driver of a Ford Focus, which was found abandoned nearby, and two people are the suspects; no one has been charged. His mother, Vera Donovan, has expressed upset at the delays in holding the inquest. At a sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court on 28 May 2024, the court heard that a supplementary file was with the DPP, which is considering it, and the inquest was adjourned to early July 2024 pending the DPP's direction.
- Reported28 May
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Stephen Lynch, 31, a father of three from the Tallaght area, suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a vehicle.
- Stephen Lynch was pronounced dead at the scene, and a death certificate listed head injury as the cause of death.
- Where
- Stephen Lynch was struck at Brookfield Close estate in Tallaght; the Mirror gives Brookview Close.
- When
- Stephen Lynch was struck by a vehicle on 13 April 2017.
- Weapon
- The vehicle involved was a Ford Focus, which was later found abandoned a short distance away.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe Mr Lynch asked the driver to slow down because children were playing, and then became involved in an altercation with the occupants of the vehicle.
- Investigation
- Gardaí launched a murder investigation after forming the view that Mr Lynch was deliberately run over.
- One suspect cut his hand after being tripped by a resident while fleeing, then escaped via Brookview Avenue; gardaí describe him as a tanned male of about 5ft 8 ins with black hair.
- A review of the original Garda investigation resulted in a supplementary file being sent to the DPP, which is considering a new file.
- Charges
- No one has ever been charged over Stephen Lynch's death.
- In court
- At Dublin District Coroner's Court on 28 May 2024, Detective Inspector Jason Miley asked coroner Dr Cróna Gallagher for a short adjournment because the file was still with the DPP.
- The coroner said she must await the DPP's direction before holding the inquest, and the case had already come before the court on numerous occasions over seven years.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been imposed, as no charges have been brought and the inquest has been adjourned to a date in early July 2024.
- Other details
- The family, through solicitor Brian Doyle, has made several public appeals for information to identify the killer and any other occupant of the car.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatStephen Lynch was later pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStephen Lynch, 31, suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Brookview Close, Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereStephen Lynch was struck by a vehicle at Brookfield Close estate in Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe car involved was abandoned at Brookfield Close estate. (irishtimes.com)
- whenStephen Lynch was struck by a vehicle on April 13th, 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fatal incident happened on 13 April 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believed Stephen Lynch was deliberately run over after an altercation. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA death certificate listed head injury as the cause of death. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí believe Mr Lynch became involved in an altercation with the occupants of the vehicle after asking the driver to slow down because of children playing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe DPP is considering a new garda file after a review of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA supplementary file is with the DPP and gardaí are awaiting direction. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí launched a murder investigation, believing the victim was deliberately run over by the driver of a Ford Focus. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA review of the original Garda investigation resulted in a supplementary file being sent to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOne suspect cut his hand after being tripped by a resident while fleeing the vehicle, then escaped via Brookview Avenue. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNo one has ever been charged over Stephen Lynch's death. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNo charges have been brought in the case to date. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard the file was with the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDetective Inspector Jason Miley asked the coroner for a short adjournment of the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe coroner said she must wait for the DPP's direction before holding the inquest. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe coroner adjourned the inquest until a date in early July. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case had already come before the coroner's court on numerous occasions over the past seven years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí described one suspect as a tanned male of about 5ft 8 ins with black hair. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe family has made several public appeals for information to identify the killer and any other occupant of the car. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 May2024Mum of man murdered in 2017 hit-and-run 'upset' over delays in holding inquest
Coroner's hearing on the inquest into Stephen Lynch's death. A file is with the DPP, no charges have been brought, and the inquest is adjourned to early July 2024.
- 28 May2024DPP considering new garda file on investigation into death of hit and run victim Stephen Lynch
Reports that a supplementary file is with the DPP, that the inquest was adjourned pending DPP direction, and that the family's solicitor says little has progressed in seven years.
victim, Stephen Lynch, 31, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen Lynch