Prayers for toddler Hunter Molloy who died in a road accident near his home in Clare

Parish Priest Fr Tom Ryan, who married Hunter’s parents, and who baptised Hunter and his sisters, led the open-air service

18-month-old Hunter Molloy died following an incident outside his home in the Ballaghboy halting site on the Quin Road, on the outskirts of Ennis. 

An open-air prayer service was held tonight for the toddler who died in a road traffic accident outside his home in Co Clare.

Hunter Molloy, aged 18 months, became one of the youngest people to die in a road traffic accident this year following an incident outside his home in the Ballaghboy halting site on the Quin Road, on the eastern outskirts of Ennis, at around 12.30pm.

The little boy was transferred from the scene to University Hospital Limerick where he was subsequently pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.

An autopsy is due to take place on Thursday to establish the exact cause of death.

The scene was preserved to facilitate an examination by garda forensic collision investigators who will prepare a report in due course.

But initial indications suggest this was a tragic accident on the narrow internal roads of the halting site, which is located about 2km east of Ennis town centre.

Parish Priest Fr Tom Ryan: 'We prayed for the family, for them to get the strength to be able to cope with this, and to get the strength to get them through the coming difficult days.' Picture: Eamon Ward

Gardaí said a family liaison officer has been appointed to support the family.

Parish priest of Ennis, Fr Tom Ryan, who married Hunter’s parents, Peter and Alisha, and who baptised Hunter, and his two older sisters, spent time with Alisha, who is expecting a baby later this year, and with her devastated family at their home and led an open-air prayer service for Hunter, for his family, their neighbours and friends.

“The family are part of a tight, close-knit community and this tragic death has just devastated them,” Fr Ryan said.

“It has plunged the entire family, and the entire community there, into devastation and grief.

“There has been a lot of talk over the last few months about deaths on the road. We came through a bank holiday with one death, and now this tragic accident.

Hunter Molloy's death 'has plunged the entire family, and the entire community there, into devastation and grief,' said Parish Priest Fr Tom Ryan. 

“We gathered in the open air and prayed. We prayed for the family, for them to get the strength to be able to cope with this, and to get the strength to get them through the coming difficult days.” 

In a post on social media, the Clare Traveller Community Development Project offered its sympathies.

"Our deepest condolences to the Molloy family - our thoughts and prayers are with ye at this very sad time (RIP Little Angel)," it read.

Hunter’s death brought to 72 the number of fatalities on the roads since start of the year – 16 more than for the same period last year.