Elderly man dies following late-night road traffic collision

93-year-old Patrick Joseph Brady, known locally as Patsy

A 93-year-old man has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Rathfriland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal incident occurred late on Saturday night, 20 December, on the Newry Road.

Chief Inspector Simpson from the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit said officers were alerted shortly before 11pm.

“Shortly after 10.45pm, we received a report of a collision involving a silver Toyota Avensis and a pedestrian on the Newry Road,” he said.

Emergency services attended the scene, however the pedestrian was sadly pronounced deceased.

The man has been named as 93-year-old Patrick Joseph Brady, known locally as Patsy, from the Barnmeen area. His death has cast a shadow over the close-knit Rathfriland community, where elderly residents are well known and deeply valued.

“At this time, we don’t believe that the driver of the Toyota has sustained serious injury,” Chief Inspector Simpson added.

The Newry Road was closed overnight to allow police forensic teams to carry out a detailed examination of the scene. The road has since fully re-opened.

Police say enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision are continuing.

“Our enquiries are continuing, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have digital footage which could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 1587 20/12/25,” Chief Inspector Simpson said.

Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from the Newry Road area around the time of the collision is urged to come forward.