Gardaí investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy in a road incident near Limerick city are examining whether he was deliberately knocked down.
The teenager, locally named as Bryan Lowe from Clonlara and Westbury in southeast Clare, was found with fatal injuries on the L3050 road at Cottage Cross, near Cloonlara village, shortly after 11pm on Friday.
According to The Journal, sources have said the boy contacted a relative shortly before his death to report that he was being followed or chased. Gardaí are investigating whether he may have become involved with a criminal group operating in the Castleconnell and Broadford areas.
Investigators believe Bryan was travelling on an electric motorbike when it was struck by another vehicle. The driver and passengers of the car left the scene following the collision.
The Journal understands that the vehicle, believed to have been a Skoda Octavia, was later discovered partially burned out in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, around 15km from the location of the incident.
Gardaí do not believe the car had been stolen and investigators believe at least three masked individuals were inside the vehicle at the time.
Bryan suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The location where he was found is around 7km from Limerick city, where he attended secondary school.
The circumstances surrounding his death have led Gardaí to examine possible links to a number of other incidents. Investigators are looking into the teenager's previous interactions with Gardaí, including a possible connection to an earlier incident involving an alleged ramming of a Garda patrol car.
They are also examining potential links between Bryan and individuals who have been the focus of Garda investigations into money laundering and organised crime in parts of Limerick and Clare.
Gardaí have appealed to members of the public for information and are particularly seeking witnesses who may have seen the Skoda Octavia believed to have been involved in the incident.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe described the events as a devastating weekend for Bryan's family and said he believes the teenager was murdered.
In a Facebook post, Mr Crowe said: “This morning he should be heading off with a bag in his back to St. Munchin’s College, but instead his distraught family are making arrangements for his funeral.”
He added: “I have met many young locals, neighbours and some past pupils of mine in the past 48 hours. They too are traumatised by what has taken place.”
Mr Crowe also urged anyone with information about the incident, particularly those who know who was driving or travelling in the Skoda Octavia, registration 05-C-5982, to contact Gardaí.
He said: “CCTV and dash-cam footage is also essential.”
