An Irish man in his 50s who travelled to Italy for a Champions League game has died after being struck by a car.
Philip Dooley, a 51-year-old living in Liverpool, died while crossing a road in Bergamo shortly before 1am on Tuesday morning.
Mr Dooley had arrived just hours before his death and was found with a ticket for Tuesday’s match in his pocket along with his passport, according to Italian media reports.
He was struck by a vehicle after trying to cross the A4 highway close to the Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo, with local media believing he was trying to reach his hotel.
How has ‘public squalor’ become so normalised in our towns and cities?
Ireland v France: Caelan Doris returns for crunch Six Nations clash
Conor McGregor ordered to pay legal costs of bid to stop spread of CCTV footage from civil rape trial
I feel we’re close now, Meghan, so I can speak freely. The right pitch is crucial in lifestyle hucksterism like yours
In a statement, Merseyside Police said it is assisting authorities in Italy while its officers have informed Mr Dooley’s next of kin in Merseyside.
“Two men who witnessed the incident are also assisting the investigation being carried out by Italian police,” it said.
Liverpool FC said it is “deeply saddened by the tragic passing”, describing Mr Dooley as a “lifelong Liverpool fan”.
“Our staff in Milan are working with the local police and consulate, and continue to provide support to other fans impacted by this devastating incident.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone connected to the club are with Philip’s family, friends and fellow supporters at this extremely difficult time,” it said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and stands ready to provide consular assistance.
“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the detail of individual cases,” she said.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
