In the early hours of Sunday morning, a tragic event shattered the quiet roads around Dungiven and the wider Derry area when 69-year-old Patrick Flanagan was found seriously injured on Foreglen Road. At approximately 1:35 a.m., officers from Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) responded to a report of an injured man in the area and quickly transported him to hospital, where he sadly died from his injuries.
Investigators believe Mr. Flanagan was struck by a vehicle in what appears to be a hit-and-run collision, and they are urging anyone in the vicinity between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. to come forward with dash-cam footage or any means of helping the inquiry. The incident has left the local community in shock, with huge sorrow for a man whose life came to a tragic end so suddenly.
Reflecting the community’s grief, local leaders conveyed their condolences. Cara Hunter, MLA for the district, said, “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the man who has tragically lost his life.” She emphasised the seriousness of the suspected hit-and-run, appealing for anyone who has information to step forward. Similarly, Caoimhe Archibald of Sinn Féin described the event as a tragedy and urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the PSNI.
Also voicing their sorrow, Amy Mairs of the Alliance party noted that “every death on our roads is a tragedy” and expressed deep sympathy for the victim’s loved ones at an unimaginably difficult time. The loss has resonated across the Derry area, where residents share an unsettling sense that a quiet community has been touched by a violent, silent moment.
Detective Inspector Gillian Connolly from the PSNI’s Criminal Investigation Department is leading the inquiry. She confirmed the timeline of the discovery of the injured man and stressed that the investigation remains ongoing. She reiterated the appeal for dash-cam footage or witness information from the Foreglen Road area between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on that Sunday morning. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call Coleraine CID on 101, quoting reference “123 02/11/25”, or to submit it online. For anonymous tips, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
As the investigation continues, the family of Mr Flanagan and his circle are left grappling with the sudden loss. The community stands with them, sharing both sorrow and a collective hope that someone will come forward to shed light on how this happened. In places like Dungiven and the surrounding parish, questions linger: how did this collision happen, and who was behind the wheel?
In the quiet that followed, local residents recall Mr Flanagan simply as a man from the Derry area whose life was cut short in a moment of crisis. While the PSNI inquiry presses on, those who knew him — neighbours, friends, and loved ones — face the heavy task of grieving someone lost too soon, in a way that ripples through their community. At the same time, their call for justice remains clear: if you know something, no matter how small it may seem, make the call.