Gardaí have since released man (30s) and continue to investigate the case
There is a “huge amount of grief” in the community of Rathkeale after a young boy was killed after he was struck by a car outside his home.
Gardaí arrested a man on suspicion of drink-driving in connection with the death of “little angel” Peter Mulcaire (2) in Rathkeale, Co Limerick. The man was since released while a blood/urine sample he provided is being analysed, and gardaí are continuing to investigate.
The young boy was pronounced dead after he sustained catastrophic injuries when he was struck by the vehicle, which failed to remain at the scene in the Abbeycourt area of the town.
The incident occurred near the boy’s home at around 4pm on Saturday.
Gardaí arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
The boy had been playing on a toy tractor when he was struck by the car.
Fr Éamonn Fitzgibbon of St Mary’s Parish in Rathkeale said the tragic news created a “huge shock and devastation in the parish” and a “huge amount of grief”.
“The community there in Abbeycourt where young Peter lives are a very united community,” he told the Irish Independent.
“[They] are rallying around the parents, around Jim and Kerrie and the wider family, giving as much support as they possibly can.
“In the coming weeks, there will be a number of different opportunities for the wider parish to come together and to pray for them, and to remember Peter.
“There still aren’t funeral arrangements, but that will also be taking place in the parish in the town in Rathkeale,” he added.
A community fun day, which had been scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled by the organisers “out of respect” for the boy and his family and the “tragic circumstances” of the boy’s death.
Friends and relatives of the boy posted photographs of him on social media, and shared their sympathies and shock with his family.
“Never in my life seen sadder, may u get best bed Peter only a baby… heartbreaking,” a relative said.
Another said: “Heartbreaking… rest in peace baby Peter.”
A neighbour of the boy’s family wrote: “l’ve never seen sadder, rest in peace to our little neighbour Peter, may God comfort his family tonight. I’m so sorry for year loss [sic], my heart breaks for his family, a little angel.”
Following the incident, paramedics took the boy by ambulance to Adare village, where he was handed to air ambulance colleagues waiting in a nearby field.
The boy was taken by air ambulance to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon.
“The vehicle involved in the collision did not remain at the scene. A male driver of the vehicle [aged in his 30s] was subsequently arrested at a different location by gardaí on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant,” a garda spokesperson said.
“The male was conveyed to a garda station in Co Limerick for the purposes of providing a blood/urine evidential sample. He has since been released pending analysis of the evidential sample. The investigation is ongoing.”
A garda family liaison officer was appointed to the boy’s family as the investigation into the circumstances of his death continued.
Gardaí were harvesting CCTV footage from homes in the Rathkeale area as part of the probe. Gardaí were also anxious to speak to anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage that may help them with their enquiries.