Mourners asked to trust gardaí that truth and justice about his death will be established
A teenager who died in a hit-and-run while riding his e-bike was hailed as a hard-working young man with a good heart who was like a ray of sunshine for his family and community.
The Requiem Mass of Bryan Lowe (16) took place amid emotional scenes in Westbury, Corbally on the Clare-Limerick border.
Mr Lowe, from Corbally in Clare, died on September 4 when he was apparently knocked from his e-bike near Cottage Cross at Clonlara on the L3050.
Gardaí fear the teenager may have been attempting to escape from a group who wanted to steal his e-bike.
Hundreds gathered at St Nicholas Church in Westbury, Corbally, on the outskirts of Limerick city, to pay tribute to the teen.
St Nicholas Parish Priest Fr Richie Davern urged the community to trust in the gardaí and authorities “that the truth and justice around Bryan’s death will be established.”
Mr Lowe’s light blue coloured coffin was surrounded by family photos and flowers while special guards of honour were provided by his friends and classmates from Scoil Íde and St Munchin’s College.
Special mention was made of Bryan’s Leaving Cert class from St Munchin’s who attended to honour their late classmate.
Mr Lowe is survived by his heartbroken parents, Crystal and Brian, brother, Jimmy, and sisters, Chloe and Jane.
He is also survived by his grandparents Margaret, Joan and Michael, as well as extended family.
Special eulogies were delivered on behalf of his parents, Brian and Crystal, by his godfather, Colm, and a cousin.
Bryan was described as a hard-working young man who was going to “carve a future out for himself with his own hands”.
His godfather, Colm, said he was a very motivated young man.
“Bryan was a hard-working young person – he worked every weekend. Some youngster’s you would have to get out of bed for a day’s work but not Bryan,” he said.
“Every time I collected Bryan for work he was waiting there at the door.”
He said the young man’s character and nature was a wonderful reflection on his parents, Brian and Crystal.
“No matter what his parents asked of him around the house, he was always happy to help,” he said.
“Anyone who met him commented on what an admirable boy he was. Bryan, you will always be here with us in our thoughts, our memories and our prayers. We love you Bryan.”
Mourners were told that Bryan made an impact on all who knew him – and will never be forgotten.
“He had a way of putting a smile on people’s faces… he loved a bit of craic and his family meant everything to Bryan,” he said.
“Bryan never forgot where he came from. He had a great personality and a wonderful outgoing nature. That is what makes today so difficult – we are saying goodbye to someone who had so much more life ahead of him…a young man who had many more years to make memories.
“We got to see that little boy grow into a fine young man. The credit for that goes to his mother Crystal and his father Brian.
“Anyone who worked with Bryan would know he had a hunger inside him – mostly, if I’m honest, for food,” he said to laughter.
“But the hunger didn’t stop there – he had a hunger for work, a hunger to learn, a hunger to get better and a hunger to earn an honest day’s wages.
“Bryan wasn’t a young fella to sit around and wait for things to be given to him – he earned his own way in life. He had the work ethic of a man who had spent ten years on a building site even though he was only a young man.
“But for all his work ethic, he had a gentleness about him too. He cared about people. He was a kind and caring young man – someone you could always count on. Someone that would stand beside you.”
The young man’s cousin said he had “the best of both worlds with the O’Connell and the Lowe families” who loved him dearly.
“Bryan’s life was all too short but he made an impact on people. He made memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives,” he said.
He said the large crowd at St Nicholas Church was a powerful testament to the kind of person Bryan was.
Offertory gifts reflected the loves of the teen’s life and included his jacket and family photos.
Fr Davern said the community was shocked by Bryan’s death.
“We are feeling devastated, traumatised and lost – but we are not without hope,” he said.
Fr Davern said the community had rallied to support Bryan’s family – and prayed that Bryan “would have a beautiful new beginning.”
He also appealed to the media to avoid sensationalist headlines and soundbites but rather to focus on the key challenges facing young people in Irish society.
The young man was buried following Requiem Mass at Doonass cemetery, Co Clare.
Meanwhile, gardaí have made “significant progress” with their investigation into the circumstances of the hit-and-run tragedy.
Detectives have secured CCTV, forensic and technical evidence and confirmed they are now following a definite line of inquiry into the circumstances of the teenager’s death at Cottage Cross.
Gardaí are pursuing a theory that the youngster was deliberately struck by a vehicle as he attempted to reach safety.
A short time earlier, the teen had sent a text to a friend expressing concern that he was being followed.
A number of properties in the Limerick and Clare areas were raided by gardaí last Wednesday.
Items of evidential value were seized.
The second vehicle involved in the tragedy fled the scene and left Mr Lowe lying critically injured by the roadside. He was pronounced dead before he could be rushed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
A partially-burned out car was located in the Castleconnell area of Limerick on Saturday, September 5.
The saloon was deliberately set alight – but its occupants fled the scene on foot before ensuring the vehicle was fully gutted.
Gardaí believe they know the identity of the person driving the car on September 4 – and the identities of others who travelled in the vehicle.
Detectives are monitoring social media postings as part of their investigation.
While the inquiry is still a fatal hit and run investigation, garda sources indicated that its nature may change depending on what evidence they obtain.
Major resources have been allocated to the case which is being led by a senior investigating officer.
CCTV footage has proved crucial to the garda investigation.
The Skoda car involved was caught on camera as it drove around the Corbally and Castleconnell areas on Friday.
Gardaí had appealed for information about the movements of the silver or gold Skoda Octavia in the greater Cloonlara area.
A full forensic and technical examination was conducted of the partially burned-out car with gardaí awaiting the results of tests from Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).
CCTV and forensic evidence will prove crucial to the garda investigation.