Boy on e-bike killed in hit-and-run on Clare-Limerick border named

The 16-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run on Friday night has been named locally as Bryan Lowe from Cloonlara and Westbury in Co Clare.

Gardaí are seeking witnesses following the fatal incident in Cloonlara, on the Clare-Limerick border, shortly after 11pm.

The area is located 7km from Limerick, where the boy was attending secondary school.

Emergency services alerted gardaí after an e-bike rider, a boy in his mid-teens, was found unresponsive by the roadside on the L3050 at Cottage Cross near Cloonlara.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, which will be examined by Garda investigators. A second vehicle failed to remain at the scene. Diversions are in place.

The coroner has been notified, and a postmortem will be arranged.

Road users who were in the Cloonlara area at the time and may have camera footage are asked to make it available to gardaí.

The boy’s family posted photographs of him and said they were devastated by his sudden death. The boy’s mother said she was “heartbroken and traumatised”.

An aunt of the boy stated in another online post: “It’s with deepest sadness that my 16-year-old nephew Bryan Lowe has passed away under cruel circumstances. Funeral arrangements to come.”

A family friend said: “I’m devastated. Every parent’s worst nightmare. I can’t imagine the heartbreak.”

St Munchin’s College (SMC) secondary school, Limerick, where the boy was a sixth-year student, also paid tribute to him.

Lorraine Shiels, deputy principal, said it was with “profound sadness” the school learned of his “tragic passing”.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to Bryan’s mom, Crystal, sister’s Chloe and Jane and all his friends here in SMC,” said Shiels.

“It is heartbreaking to lose one of our boys at any time but particularly while they are still a student in our school.

“Bryan should be looking ahead to his Leaving Certificate, to his future and to all the possibilities that lay before him.

“Instead, we are coming together to mourn one of our student’s whose life has been taken far too soon.

“Bryan was an absolute gentleman to meet on the corridor. He would do anything asked of him without complaint. There was a lovely kindness to him and a big heart. He will be sorely missed by everyone in our community.”

Shiels said the school would be open on Sunday from noon, “for any student who would like to come in for a cup of tea”.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe called on local people to check cameras for information that could be useful to gardaí.

“There are no words,” he said. “Like many of people in our local area I have woken up to this heart-breaking news. My heart goes out to [the boy’s] poor family.

“Gardaí are appealing for information following the incident at Cottage Cross near Clonlara at around 11pm last night. I would strongly encourage anyone who was travelling in the area at or around that time to check any dashcam footage they may have.

“Likewise, local residents and businesses should check CCTV or doorbell cameras for anything that might assist gardaí.

“Even something that seems insignificant could be important. If you have any information or footage, please contact An Garda Síochána,” he added.

Detectives based out of Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick City, are leading the investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Henry Garda station on (061) 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Figures from gardaí show there have been 127 road deaths up to September 4th, an increase on the 112 deaths in 2025.

Drivers make up the highest proportion of road deaths this year at 47, followed by passengers at 27.

There has been concern at Government level about the increasing number of road deaths in recent years, with 2025 having the highest number of fatalities in a decade, and this year tracking even higher.