The
Limerick Leader - Saturday, 1 September 2007.
Boy,
12, killed in city tragedy
By Petula Martyn
A 12 YEAR-OLD boy,
who was due to start secondary school this Friday, has been
killed in a tragic accident involving a truck in Moyross.
The boy has been
named locally as John Leo who was from the area.
It is understood
the boy died after he was caught under the back wheel of the
truck this Thursday morning. The tragedy which unfolded at 10.10am
marked the second death on Limerick roads this week.
Local people comforted
the child's grandfather who is said to have been distraught.
An onlooker described the scene as "heartbreaking"
and said the boy's grandfather was "inconsolable".
The local parish
priest, Fr Frank O'Dea, who lives around the corner from Hartigan
Villas, was at the scene within minutes of the accident. He
said "It is shocking for all concerned, the family and
the neighbours. It is a terrible tragedy."
Limerick City Council
has been demolishing bungalows in preparation for recommendations
in the John Fitzgerald report and it is understood workmen were
working at the site at the time.
A garda forensic
team began a technical examination of the scene when the body
was removed by ambulance to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital
an hour after the accident.
The young boy was
killed as the funeral mass was taking place in Kilcornan of
32 year-old, Trevor McCarthy. The father of four died in a single
vehicle crash in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Ten people
have died on Limerick roads so far this year.
Meanwhile, in an
unrelated incident, a teenager in Ballynanty had a lucky escape
on Wednesday night when a stolen car crashed into his go-kart
pinning him to the wall.
Kurt Ryan was due
to go back to St. Nessan's secondary school this Thursday morning
after the summer break, but instead he is recovering at home
from his injuries.
It is understood
a car being pursued by a garda patrol car lost control, mounted
the footpath and collided with the 14 year-old, pinning him
to the gable wall of Tommy Cassidy's shop at 9.30pm.
The female driver
of the car was arrested at the scene and brought to Henry Street
Garda Station for questioning. The woman, who is in her late
teens, was still in garda custody this Thursday afternoon
