A man has been killed and a garda injured in a two-car collision in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

The deceased has been named as Stephen Marron, 47, from Castleblayney, who was married with two children.

A 34-year-old man who was arrested at the scene is being detained at Carrickmacross Garda Station.

An appeal for information has been issued and gardaí are asking for a woman, who was the first member of the public to come on the scene last night, to contact them.

A garda spokesman said that the woman assisted the injured garda. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carrickmacross Garda Station on 042-9690190.

A car - believed to be a silver Audi A6 - was seen being driven erratically in the town at around 11.30pm last night, before it stopped and the driver went into the garda station.

It is not known why the man was in the station, but he was recognised as a person from Northern Ireland whom gardaí wanted to speak to in connection with other matters.

The man ran out of the station and a garda tried to stop him. It is not clear what happened next but the garda was dragged along the street for around 500m before the Audi, being driven by the man who is currently detained, crashed into a Skoda Octavia, which was being driven by Mr Marron, on Main Street.

It is understood Stephen Marron was working when the crash happened (Pic: Noel McGuigan)

It is believed Mr Marron was working last night delivering takeaways. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

The garda, who is in his 30s and stationed at Monaghan Garda Station, was treated in hospital with facial, head and leg injuries.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission said it has "deployed a team of investigators to the scene and an examination of the incident continues".

Main Street in Castleblayney, which was closed for a technical examination, has reopened.

The Parish of Muckno in Co Monaghan has said that it is "shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic death" of Mr Marron.

In a statement, the parish said that he "was an active member of our parish community, serving as assistant sacristan at St Mary's Church, Castleblayney, and St Patrick's Church, Oram".

He was also a minister of the word.

The parish statement described Mr Marron as "a devoted member of the wider Castleblayney community, particularly through sports organisations" as well as "a loving and devoted husband and father, a son, brother, and a good friend to many".