'Hearts are heavy across the country': Tributes paid to nine-year-old killed in hit-and-run
Ronan Wilson who was fatally injured in a Hit and Run in Bundoran. Photo: Sourced
A man has been arrested in relation to a fatal hit-and-run incident in Donegal on Saturday night.
The nine-year-old boy who was fatally injured has been named locally as Ronan Wilson.
The vehicle involved did not remain at the scene in Bundoran and a major Garda operation was then mounted on Saturday evening in a bid to apprehend the driver.
On Sunday evening, gardaí confirmed that they had arrested a man, aged in his 20s, in connection with the incident.
He is currently being detained at a Garda station in Donegal.
A vehicle has been seized and will undergo a technical examination.
Nine-year-old Ronan was staying in Bundoran with his family, who are from neighbouring Co Tyrone, when the tragedy happened.
Ronan, whose family are from Kildress, was killed instantly when he was struck by a car at around 9.20pm on Saturday evening at Atlantic Way in the seaside town.
The local GAA club in Tyrone, Kildress Wolfe Tones, cancelled their Intermediate Club Championship and U16 Ladies game as a result of the tragedy.
Ronan played with the club's Under-10 football team while his older brother Callum and sister Amy also play for the club.
The Wilson family are well-known in the Kildress area where his father Deane runs a haulage firm.
He and his wife Emma as well as Ronan's siblings were being comforted following the awful tragedy.
The young victim was pronounced dead at the scene and his remains were later taken to Sligo University Hospital.
The area of the collision was immediately sealed off and officers have spent the day carrying out forensic analysis of the scene.
A second scene approximately 300 yards away was also sealed off by gardaí.
However, gardaí have not yet disclosed why this particular area was cordoned off nor given any details on how the accident occurred.
The scene of the tragedy is a busy area close to the beach, a caravan park and also the popular Waterworld playpark.
Some politicians have paid tribute to the young boy following the tragic news.
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill expressed her sadness.
“Hearts are heavy across the country for the beautiful wee Ronan Wilson,” she posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said the local community in Kildress is broken-hearted following the death of the nine-year-old.
“The whole community in Kildress and across Tyrone is broken-hearted today. The Wilsons are a well-known local family and this tragedy has shocked us all,” he said.
“My thoughts are with Ronan’s family and friends as they come to terms with this devastating news. I know everyone in Kildress and further afield will be thinking of them and will rally around them in the days ahead.”
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses and are particularly appealing to the driver of the vehicle to come forward.
Anyone with video footage, including dash cam recordings, from Atlantic Way and Sea Road and the general area at the time, are also asked to make the footage available to gardaí.
Anyone with information can contact Ballyshannon Garda Station 074 9858530 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Meanwhile in another night of carnage on the country's roads, a man, 20s died following a collision between a taxi and a pedestrian in Kerry in the early hours of this morning.
The incident happened shortly after 2am on the R553 at Ballydonohoe, Lisselton near Ballybunion.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
His body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry.
The driver, a man in his 40s, did not require medical treatment.
The scene was sealed off for a forensic examination and traffic diversions were put in place.
Gardaí in Listowel appealed for any witnesses to contact them, particularly any road users with camera or dashcam recordings, from the R553 between Ballybunion and Listowel between 130am and 2.15am this morning.
Anyone with information can contact Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
In Dublin, a motorcyclist in his 20s died after colliding with a pedestrian just before 2.45am at a roundabout on the Whitestown Way in Tallaght.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene while the pedestrian, also in his 20s, was taken to Tallaght Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The road is closed while the scene is examined by gardaí.
They are appealing to anyone with information or who was travelling in the area at the time and has camera footage to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
There was another fatal collision in Co Clare on Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 1.30pm as people were participating in the Clare Rally.
The victim has been named as 37-year-old Damien Fleming from Kilcummin, Co Kerry.
This weekend's four fatalities bring the total number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year to 137.
That is 30 more than recorded this time last year.
Of the 137 killed, 47 were drivers, 33 were pedestrians, 31 were passengers, and 18 were motorcyclists.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
