Ireland

Post mortems carried out on father and son after suspected murder-suicide

Marco Velocci, who died in a suspected murder-suicide along with his three-year-old son Alex
Marco Velocci, who died in a suspected murder-suicide along with his three-year-old son Alex Marco Velocci, who died in a suspected murder-suicide along with his three-year-old son Alex

POST MORTEM examinations have been carried out on the bodies of a 28-year-old man and his three-year-old son who were killed in a suspected murder-suicide when their car drove into a lorry in Co Limerick.

Marco Velocci and his son Alex died after their car collided with a truck on the N24 between Pallasgreen and Oola, on the Limerick-Tipperary border, at around 8.30am on Tuesday.

Gardai said Mr Velocci's ex-partner Jodie Power (26), Alex's mother, was attacked at her home in Oola, Co Limerick, shortly before the crash. Ms Power was taken to hospital after she was stabbed and suffered a broken arm at about 8am on Tuesday.

The pair had been partners for many years but had split up. It is understood Mr Velocci had stayed in the house the night before the violent row.

Following the row, Mr Velocci, who worked as a carpenter, left the house with their son in his black Audi car.

He drove towards Tipperary but witnesses said he veered into the path of an oncoming cement truck. The driver of the lorry, which ended up in a nearby field, was not injured but was treated for shock.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the crash.

Ms Power has an 18-month-old baby from a separate relationship and had been separated from Mr Velocci, whose father is originally from Italy. Following the break-up of the relationship, Mr Velocci had been living in Lattin in south Tipperary.

The post mortems took place in University Hospital Limerick yesterday.

Well-wishers have placed flowers and mementos, including a football, at the crash site.