We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Grace Lynch (16)

Man (18) charged with causing death of Grace Lynch in scrambler crash on Sunday

Sixteen-year-old Grace Lynch was walking along Ratoath Road in Finglas when the crash happened at around 2.20pm on Sunday.

A TEENAGER HAS appeared in court charged with causing the death of a teenage girl in a crash involving a scrambler motorbike in Dublin on Sunday.

Keith Lee, 18, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday morning.

Sixteen-year-old Grace Lynch was walking along Ratoath Road in Finglas when the crash happened at around 2.20pm on Sunday.

She was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where she later died from her injuries.

Lee, with an address on Park View Drive in Poppintree Park, appeared before Judge Aine Clancy on Tuesday accused of driving causing Grace’s death, under Section 53 and 53a of the Road Traffic Act 2011. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Wayne Kenny, the lawyer for the accused, described Grace’s death as “an unspeakable tragedy”.

The court heard how she was at a pedestrian crossing when a motorbike travelled through the lights as they turned red, followed by a second bike which hit Grace.

Garda Thomas McDaniel said the bike was travelling at a speed “suspected to be not below 85 kilometres an hour” in an area which has a 50 kilometres an hour zone, and that the whole incident was caught by a CCTV camera.

He said Lee made no reply when cautioned, but had “fully cooperated” with the investigation.

The accused sat in the dock wearing black trousers and a grey and black hoodie.

Scrambler death case-5_90741922 Keith Lee, 18, covering his face wi

The court heard how the part-time mechanic’s mother and brother were in court, and his father passed away “some years ago”.

Grace’s family were not in court.

Mr McDaniel said that Lee and another male were treated for injuries at the scene which were not serious.

The court heard how Lee had no previous convictions.

Ms Clancy granted him bail with a number of conditions including his own 2,500 euro bond with 1,000 euro lodged and an independent surety bond of 2,000 euro with 1,000 euro lodged.

He was also instructed to sign on three times a week at Blanchardstown Garda Station and not to drive any “mechanically propelled vehicle” including cars, scrambler motorbikes or scooters.

Lee must also reside at home addresses and observe a curfew between 11pm and 6am, surrender his passport and not have contact with the deceased’s family.

More than 1,000 people gathered on Monday evening to retrace a route taken by Grace on the day she died.

At Plunkett Green, a crowd of friends, neighbours and locals sang the song Grace and released pink balloons into the air.

Her mother Siobhan Lynch thanked people for coming out for the walk, and said watching her daughter “take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable”.

“It’s not something that any parent should have to deal with.”

Close
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds