The PSNI believe Pat John McCafferty was struck by a car that failed to stop at the scene
A 49-year-old separated father of three daughters died from injuries he sustained in a suspected ‘hit and run’ incident on the Tullychurry Road, near Boa island, at 2.50am on Sunday morning last.
The deceased was Pat John McCafferty, a skilled mechanic, who lived in the area. The victim has a sister living in Belleek and his mother and two brothers live in Pettigo.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, the PSNI issued a statement, saying they believed that Mr McCafferty was struck by a car which failed to stop at the scene.
It said officers were looking for a blue Ford Focus with front end damage.
Its spokesman confirmed that gardai were also on the look-out for the car.
Later on Sunday, at around 5pm, gardai arrested a man in his 40s in Pettigo.
He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and held at Ballyshannon garda station.
A Garda spokesman said yesterday: “We can confirm that this man was released without charge on Monday evening, 6th January and that a file is being prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
The spokesman declined to give out any more details.
In an update today (Wednesday) it is understood police on both sides of the border have upgraded a hit-and-run death to murder.
The parish priest of Pettigo, Fr Owen Joe McEneaney said he did not know the deceased, or his two brothers, Francie and Liam or their sister, Mary (Mrs Gerry Ferguson, Daly Park, Belleek), but he knew their mother.
“She is a lovely lady, a lovely, lovely lady, very well respected.
“A lot of people, their hearts are going out to her on the tragic circumstances.”
Fr McEneaney said the funeral arrangements at that stage were not known.
A neighbour of the deceased said he lived with his partner, Anne on the Tullychurry Road.
“He was a jolly fellow. Any time I met him he always had a smile. He would always stop with you to say, ‘Hello’. It’s a tragedy. I know his mother and his sister. They have a lot to deal with.
“He was a hard worker. He worked with diggers and did a lot of work around the country. He was into cars. He was a great mechanic and could fix anything to do with a car.”
Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area before or after the time of the incident and saw a car matching the description (a blue Ford Focus with front end damage) to contact them on 0845 600 8000.
An added poignancy to Sunday’s tragedy was that a niece of Mr McCafferty’s brother-in-law, Gerry Ferguson, Donna Ferguson (24) died in an early morning traffic collision on the Belleek-Kesh road in 2006.
A man was later fined and banned from driving for 18 months after being found guilty of careless driving.
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