Three-year-old boy and his grandparents killed in single-vehicle crash in Tipperary

The boy's parents also sustained serious injuries in the crash

The road in Windmill Knockbulloge is currently closed to traffic and is not expected to reopen for some time. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

A three-year-old boy and his two grandparents have died in a single-vehicle crash in Cashel, Co Tipperary.

The crash happened shortly before 9pm on Tuesday night, when the vehicle hit a wall in the Windmill Knockbulloge area. 

The three-year-old boy and his two grandparents, aged in their 40s, were passengers in the rear of the car. 

The bodies of the two adults have been removed to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The body of the young boy has been removed to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel.

The boy's parents, who are aged in their 20s, sustained serious injuries in the crash. They are currently undergoing treatment at Tipperary University Hospital. 

The road in Windmill Knockbulloge is currently closed to traffic and is not expected to reopen for some time. Local diversions have been put in place.

A Garda spokesperson said forensic collision investigators would attend the scene later on Wednesday morning to conduct an examination.

Gardaí at the scene of the crash this morning. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

An incident room has been established at Cahir Garda Station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation.

Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to Tuesday night's collision to contact them.

Any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling in the Windmill Knockbulloge area near Cashel between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Tuesday evening have been asked to make this footage available. 

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cahir Garda Station on 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

'An unbelievably difficult week for people of Tipperary'

There was widespread disbelief across all social media platforms on Tuesday night as news of the crash in Cashel broke.

The deaths come just a few days after the car crash in Clonmel last Friday night which claimed four lives.

Chairperson of Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District Declan Burgess said: "Just days after the tragedy in nearby town Clonmel, we didn't expect to be struck in Tipperary by a yet another awful blow.

"Our community of Cashel is extremely, extremely sore. It's extremely numb.

"It's truly an upsetting and very difficult situation, especially when there's a child involved.

"Our community really feels some of the strongest emotions right now, it's just awful.

Mr Burgess, expressed his deepest condolences to the families involved in Tuesday's crash. 

"It's hard to comprehend," he said. 

"It's a really difficult situation, and the town are struggling to cope with an ongoing situation.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the two others who are in hospital."

In a post on Facebook last night, TD Michael Lowry said: “There is an enormous sense of shock in the Cashel area tonight following confirmation of a fatal car crash.

“It is understood that two grandparents and their three-year-old grandchild have lost their lives in the single-vehicle crash, which occurred just outside the town.

“Two other adult passengers have been removed to hospital for treatment.” 

TD Mattie McGrath said: “More heartbreak within our community as a number of people have been killed in a crash near Windmill, Cashel.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved, their families and the emergency services dealing with another tragic road collision.

“There are just no words, what an unbelievably difficult week this has been for the people of Tipperary.

“Such heartbreaking news when the county is still grieving following Friday night's tragic accident, which claimed four young lives.

“May those who have lost their lives Rest in eternal peace.” 

The death toll on Tipperary roads now stands at 10 in just 30 days between July 31 and August 30, and 123 countrywide.

It is the second multiple fatality road traffic tragedy in Tipperary in under a week.

The deaths come just days ahead of the funerals of the four young people who were killed in the horrific crash in Clonmel last Friday.

Luke McSweeney, 24, his sister Grace McSweeney, and her friends, Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey, all aged 18, were all killed when the car Luke was driving struck a wall at Hillview, Mountain Road, Clonmel, at about 7.30pm.

The girls had received their Leaving Cert results and were on their way to a Leaving Cert party.

Before Tuesday night’s fatalities, 120 people had died on Irish roads — 27 pedestrians, 43 drivers, 26 passengers, 17 motorcyclists, three pedal cyclists, three e-scooter riders and one pillion passenger.

On Monday, Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers said the Government plans to meet the Road Safety Authority and gardaí to try to address the spike in road deaths which has so far seen 20% more fatalities in 2023 than last year, and 40% more than 2019.