The M8 just outside Mitchelstown before the Cahir exit, was closed for the majority of the day on Friday last, after a man in his 80’s had died following a collision with a truck.

The man who was named locally as Martin Heffernan from Lattin in South Tipperary is believed to have been travelling on the wrong side of the road before he collided with a delivery truck at 2am on May 24. Gardai were trying to intercept him before the fatal crash.

The truck driver was uninjured and the accident was attended to by units of the fire brigade from Cahir and Mitchelstown.

Mr Heffernan was described as being a staunch Fine Gael supporter and GAA fan and people from the communities in Mitchelstown and South Tipperary described the accident as a sad tragedy.