On the date of an incident that would later prove fatal, Brendan Keogh was celebrating his first year living in Canada, following his move from Ireland.
“Official [sic] a year in Canada as of today, I am planning a big move in the course of the next month, it's going to be pretty exciting,” reads a Facebook post dated March 13.
That night, at around 10:30 p.m., a police vehicle struck him at the intersection of Highway 99 and Garibaldi Way in Squamish.
RCMP identified the driver as an officer with the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Services. The vehicle, officers say, was an unmarked grey SUV.
Keogh was rushed to hospital in serious condition.
Today, B.C.’s police oversight body, the Independent Investigations Office, or IIO, announced that he died on Aug. 1.
Shortly after the March incident, his co-workers in Squamish expressed sympathy and support.
“From everyone at the Howe Sound Inn, our hearts and prayers are with Brendan and his family, who are now over here from Ireland,” said Dave Fenn, co-owner of Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company told The Chief in April.
“Brendan has worked with us over the past year and he has made many new friends in the community."
Around that time, Keogh was also identified by Irish media as a 29-year-old from County Longford.
The Longford Leader described Keogh as a well-liked Mullinalaghta native, and also said his parents, Kevin and Marian, and two sisters, Niamh and Aine, flew out to Canada to be by his side.
Later, The Leader said that Keogh was flown back to Ireland, where it was hoped he would continue his rehabilitation.
Authorities in B.C. scrambled to look into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Since the March incident, the IIO has been looking for witnesses, including the occupants of a white hatchback vehicle that was believed to be in the area at the time.
The office is called to examine incidents of serious harm involving police. Its agents are still investigating this case.
