Police make specific appeal for witness following fatal hit and run in west Belfast

by Q Radio News

Police investigating a fatal hit and run in west Belfast last month have made a specific witness appeal. 

Local man Richard Gerard Boyle was struck on the Stewartstown Road on 5th February, by a vehicle that failed to stop at the scene. 

Richard was taken to hospital where he sadly died. 

The PSNI says it's making a specific appeal to the driver of a black saloon-type vehicle with a taxi sign on the roof, which was heading towards the city to contact officers. 

The driver is a witness and is not believed to be involved in the incident at all. 

Detective Inspector Carol Dane said, “While we have spoken with a number of witnesses and recovered CCTV from the area, we are again appealing to anyone who was driving on the Stewartstown Road that evening around 10pm, and who has not yet spoken with us, to get in touch." 

She added, “A short time after the collision, we recovered a partially burnt out, dark blue Volkswagen Golf R from the Norfolk Way/Norglen Gardens area which we believe was the only vehicle involved.

"A 23-year-old man and a 22 year-old man arrested in relation to the collision were released on police bail pending further enquiries.

“Anyone with information, or who saw a dark blue Volkswagen Golf R in West Belfast or on the M1 between the Broadway and Blacks Road junctions on Friday 5th February 2021 between 9.30pm and 10.30pm, or who has dash cam footage of it, is urged to call us on 101, quoting reference number 1997 of 05/02/21."