A teenage boy killed in a hit-and-run on Friday night was dragged a ‘significant’ distance under the car that hit him, Extra.ie has learned.
Gardaí fear Bryan Lowe was deliberately killed as they investigate a possible dispute between youths before the incident.
One line of enquiry is that the culprits were trying to steal the electric scrambler he was riding before ‘ramming’ the 16-year-old when he refused to hand it over.
The State Pathologist was due to carry out a postmortem last night on the boy’s remains.
The teenager was riding the scrambler when it was struck by another vehicle that fled the scene.
He was found dead by the side of the L3050 road, at Cottage Cross, near Cloonlara village, Co. Clare, shortly after 11pm on Friday.
A source yesterday said the scene is a ‘serious length’ because the victim ‘was dragged a significant distance under the car’.
Gardaí are investigating if some of the suspects in the incident are involved in the sale and supply of drugs locally.
They are also looking into reports of an alleged incident involving balaclava-wearing teenagers earlier in the evening.
A source told Extra: ‘As you can imagine, a lot of red herrings are in the mix at the moment.’
Many people paid tributes to the tragic teenager yesterday.
Bryan’s family posted photos of him on social media and said they were devastated at his death.
His sister wrote: ‘Oh my brother [heartbreak emoji]… how do I tell your nephew we’ll never see you again [crying emoji]. My one and only brother, your whole life ahead of you.
‘Our boy, you were robbed from us… oh my brother I have no words for the pain we feel.
‘Mam’s one and only son, [our] only brother, and the best uncle to your nephews.. cannot describe the pain and heartache we feel.
‘I wish you’d just ring me and tell me you’re ok. Love you with every piece of my broken heart.’
Bryan’s mother also shared news of her son’s death on social media, saying she is ‘heartbroken and traumatised’.
His aunt posted online: ‘It’s with deepest sadness that my 16-yearold nephew Bryan Lowe has passed away under cruel circumstances. Funeral arrangements to come.’
A friend of his added: ‘Oh Bryan, why, just why did it have to be you, the best young fella I know. I’m telling you, [Bryan] could make anyone laugh and trust me that’s the truth, and don’t even try going slag for slag cause he’ll win [heart emoji and laughing emoji]… trust me he’ll make u laugh.
‘I don’t even know what to say about him, there’s to much. Bryan, man, you will be missed bro, love you to bits bro, never gonna forget anything we’ve ever done.’
St Munchin’s College (SMC) secondary school in Limerick, where Bryan was a sixth-year student, also paid tribute to the teenager.
Deputy principal Lorraine Shiels said it was with ‘profound sadness’ the school learned of Bryan’s ‘tragic passing’.
She added: ‘First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to Bryan’s mom, Crystal, sister’s Chloe and Jane and all his friends here in SMC.
‘It is heartbreaking to lose one of our boys at any time but particularly while they are still a student in our school.
‘Bryan should be looking ahead to his Leaving Certificate, to his future and to all the possibilities that lay before him. Instead, we are coming together to mourn one of our students whose life has been taken far too soon.
‘Bryan was an absolute gentleman to meet on the corridor. He would do anything asked of him without complaint.
‘There was a lovely kindness to him and a big heart. He will be sorely missed by everyone in our community.’
Ms Shiels said the school will open today from 12pm ‘for any student who would like to come in for a cup of tea’.
Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said his ‘heart goes out’ to the teenager’s family and urged anyone with information to contact the gardaí.
The Clare TD said: ‘There are no words. Like many people in our local area, I have woken up to this heartbreaking news.
‘My heart goes out to the poor family. Please keep them in your prayers. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the boy’s family, friends and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.’
Mr Crowe also asked local residents and businesses to check CCTV or doorbell cameras for anything that might help the Garda investigation, adding: ‘Even something that seems insignificant could be important.’
Detectives at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick are leading the investigation.
In a statement yesterday, a Garda spokesman said: ‘Gardaí are seeking witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in Cloonlara, on the Clare-Limerick border, on Friday, September 4, 2026.
‘Shortly after 11pm, emergency services alerted gardaí after an e-bike rider, a male in his mid-teenswas found , unresponsive by the roadside on the L3050 at Cottage Cross near Cloonlara. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
‘A second vehicle involved failed to remain at the scene.’
