Mother of teen killed by scrambler calls for gardaí to 'step up' and take Grace's Law seriously
The mother of a teenage girl who was killed after being struck by a scrambler bike in Dublin earlier this year has called on gardaí to “step up” and take new legislation banning the use of such vehicles in public places seriously.
Siobhán Lynch expressed hope that gardaí would make use of new regulations known as “Grace’s Law” in honour of her daughter.
“They’re there for a reason,” she said. “They’ve got enforcements and we’d like to see them use those enforcements because she shouldn’t have died.”
Grace Lynch (16) of Valley Park Road, Finglas South was fatally injured when she was involved in a collision with a scrambler at a pedestrian crossing on Rathoath Road, Finglas at approximately 2:20pm on January 25th, 2026.
Grace Lynch, who was a 5th year student at St Michael’s Holy Faith Secondary School in Finglas, was rushed by ambulance to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for treatment for serious injuries sustained in the crash but passed away later that evening.
Speaking following the opening of the inquest into her daughter’s death at Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Thursday, Grace’s mother remarked: “No one should die at the hands of these things. It’s up to them (gardaí) now to do their job and the ministers to keep their word.”
Siobhán Lynch said a comment which stuck with her was one made by a priest at her daughter’s funeral in relation to the “feral youth of society” and how they “will kill or be killed.”
“Even today, we’re seeing so many more people dying, so many more injuries,” she observed.
During the brief hearing, Siobhán Lynch gave evidence of formally identifying her daughter’s body to gardaí in a family room at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown on the evening of her death.
The inquest heard that a postmortem confirmed that the teenager had died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries due to a road traffic collision.
Detective Inspector Dara Kenny applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 (2) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings had been initiated following a Garda investigation into Grace’s death.
The coroner, Cróna Gallagher, granted the application and adjourned the case indefinitely to await the conclusion of the related case before the criminal courts.
Dr Gallagher explained that a decision on the next steps would be taken at that stage depending on the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
The coroner said she would obviously take the wishes of Grace’s family into account too.
Offering her sincerest sympathy to the teenager's parents and other family members, Dr Gallahger remarked: “I’m sure today was a difficult day for you as it has every day since this very tragic death.
Speaking after the hearing, Grace’s father, Martin, said attending an inquest into the death of their child was something that no parent wanted to do.
“What happened inside brings it right back into your mind,” he added.
Martin Lynch expressed hope that the legal proceedings in relation to his daughter’s death would be over as soon as possible so that his family could “move on.”
Despite promises from Government ministers that they would look at speeding up the process, Martin Lynch accepted it would not happen “straight away.”
He said people would end up back in coroner’s courts as a result of people still using scramblers.
“And it shouldn’t happen,” he remarked.
A teenager, Keith Lee, was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Grace Lynch at a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court on January 27th, 2026
The court heard that the 18-year-old part-time mechanic from Parkview Drive, Poppintree Park, Dublin 11, who has ADHD and dyslexia, made no reply when charged with the offence.
Judge Áine Clancy was told there was CCTV footage which showed a motorbike going through a red light at a pedestrian crossing followed by a second bike which struck Grace Lynch as she was attempting to cross the road.
The court heard that the vehicle was travelling at a speed of more than 85km/h in a zone with a 50 km/h speed limit.
Defence solicitor, Wayne Kenny, said the incident was “an unspeakable tragedy” and his client had made “full and frank” admissions because it was the right thing to do and had shown remorse.
Lee was granted bail with a number of conditions including that he cannot drive any mechanically propelled vehicle including a car or any type of scrambler or scooter.
The accused is also required to reside with his mother and observe a curfew between 11pm and 6am as well as having no contact with the family of Grace Lynch.
Grace’s tragic death led to public calls for a further clampdown on the use of off-road scramblers which had been illegal to use on public roads since July 2023.
A public campaign led by her mother resulted in new legislation known as Grace’s Law coming into effect at the start of April.
The Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026 introduced an explicit ban on scramblers and other forms of off-road motorcycles such as quad bikes from all public places in the Republic.
The regulations make it an offence to use a scrambler in any public place whether or not it is being driven dangerously.
Off-road motorcycles are now only legal for use on private lands by the landowners themselves or with their written consent which will ensure their continued use for appropriate agricultural purposes and controlled licenced sports events.
The new regulations also provide gardaí with greater powers to seize such vehicles and destroy them.
The Department of Transport has also promised to introduce new regulations which will substantially increase the cost of releasing a scrambler following seizure.
