A two-year-old boy has died after being struck by a Jeep in an alleged hit-and-run incident in Rathkeale, County Limerick, Ireland. The collision occurred shortly after 3:50 p.m. on Saturday.
The toddler, identified locally as Peter Mulcaire, was playing with his toy tractor at the time of the incident. He was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries but was pronounced deceased. Peter had reportedly started pre-school just days before the fatal event.
Gardai, the Irish police force, arrested a male driver in his 30s on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. The vehicle involved did not remain at the scene. The suspect was taken to a Garda station to provide a blood or urine sample and has since been released pending the analysis of that sample. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, including a post-mortem examination.
Friends and family have shared tributes to Peter online, remembering him as a "beautiful little boy" and a "gorgeous handsome boy." Father Eamonn Fitzgibbon of St. Mary's Parish described the death as a "terrible shock" to the community, emphasizing its tendency to rally and support its members during difficult times.
Authorities are appealing for witnesses and requesting that any road users who were in the Rathkeale area, specifically near Abbey Court, between 3:20 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in any camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, that may assist the investigation. The road was closed for a period for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.