Grace Lynch's mother gets death threats for seeking scrambler bike ban on public roads

The Government has responded to the 16-year-old’s death through the Oireachtas by banning scrambler bikes in public places in what is now called 'Grace’s Law'

The late Grace Lynch, who died after being hit by a scrambler bike in Dublin.

The grieving mother of Grace Lynch, the teenager killed by a scrambler bike, has revealed she has been receiving horrifying death threats for speaking out.

Siobhan Gifford Lynch's daughter was tragically killed on January 25 while crossing the road in Finglas near her home. She was thrown to the other side of the road at the pedestrian crossing and died in nearby Connolly Hospital.

Now Ms Lynch has been targeted with a campaign of abuse and intimidation after calling for scrambler bikes to be banned from public roads.

The deeply distressing messages she has been subjected to since include threats to “leave you the way your daughter was” and that she “should be put down there with her”.

She has also been threatened with having someone “smash in” her windows.

Ms Lynch has been vocal about the dangers of scramblers since her daughter’s death and legislation to have them taken off the road is now called “Grace’s Law”.

'Grace did nothing wrong'

The threats, she said, have compounded the trauma of losing her child in circumstances she believes were entirely preventable.

“Grace did nothing wrong,” Ms Lynch said. “She wasn’t in trouble; she wasn’t involved in anything. She was a quiet girl who kept to herself and her friends.

“She was a bright student at school, the loveliest child and all she was doing was walking to see her boyfriend play football when she was left with all her bones broken and her little body smashed in."

She said that on the day in question, Grace had simply crossed the road at a pedestrian crossing, believing she had the right of way.

“She pressed the lights, waited for the green, like any child is taught to do. She had the right of way. This is not her fault.

“Yet I am repeatedly receiving messages that she wasn’t looking where she was going.

“People are saying maybe she had earphones in, maybe she was on her phone. She never wore earphones. Even if she had, she had the right of way. She could have walked across with her eyes closed and she still had the right of way.” 

Ms Lynch said she refuses to be “intimidated by anyone” and will continue her fight to take scramblers off the road and wants parents held accountable for their children’s actions. She has kept the gardaí informed.

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She said the threats will not stop her from highlighting the dangers of scramblers.

"I urge people if you see someone flying around on one, ring the gardaí, there is a confidential number. They need your help.

“My daughter’s lost her life, she isn’t coming home, I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. No family should have to go through this.

“My daughter was failed because that law banning scramblers is not new. She was let down because of a lack of enforcement and there are still lads flying around Finglas today who couldn’t care less."