Paul McMonagle, from Leafair Park in the Galliagh estate, died after the car he was travelling in went out of control and hit a low wall in front of a garage in the village of Muff on the Derry/Donegal border at 1am.

It's been suggested that the car was being chased by the gardai at the time.

The driver of the car, understood to be the victim's father, was also taken to Letterkenny Hospital, but his injuries have been described as minor.

The scene of the accident was cordoned off for most of the day. The road was re-opened around 4pm. A single bouquet of flowers with the message 'Gone but not forgotten' has been left on the garage wall amid debris from the accident.

Paul McMonagle spoke to the 'Journal' earlier this week, claiming he feared for his life after receiving a death threat from dissident republicans who accused him of a sex attack.

He did not want to be named in the article.

He said he'd been targeted by the Real IRA following an indecent assault on a young woman pushing a pram in Galliagh in June.

Mr McMonagle, who is understood to have been shot in the ankle by the INLA in Derry some years ago, claimed: "I'm an innocent man but now I'm fearing for my life because I've been blamed in the wrong."

"I went to police voluntarily and even took part in an identity parade," he said. "I have received a death threat for nothing, I just want to clear my name."