The parents of the teenager Grace Lynch, who was killed after being hit by a scrambler bike in January, have said that they intend to continue to campaign to ensure that Grace's Law is implemented and properly enforced by An Garda Síochána, in honour of their daughter.
Siobhán and Martin Lynch were speaking following the adjournment of the inquest into Grace's death, where they said they want to see the Gardaí make full use of this law, set up in their daughter's memory, with Siobhán saying that "it meant a legacy for Grace... that she’ll always be remembered".
Back in January, Grace Lynch, aged 16, was fatally struck by a scrambler bike at a pedestrian cross along the Rathoath Road in Finglas.
Last month, new regulations were introduced, banning the use of scramblers and similar off road vehicles in public places, enabling Gardaí with the authority to seize and destroy them.
"Unfortunately she won’t get to meet her future nieces and nephews, but they know their auntie had a law, and a name, and a legacy, that she’d be there forever", Siobhán said. "She shouldn’t have died for that law, but she deserves that law".
Elsewhere, the couple said they are also seeking better clarity about how Grace's Law is being enforced.
"Martin was told by [Garda Commissioner] Justin Kelly a couple of weeks ago that the gardaí had enforcement [powers]," Ms Lynch said. "And we met with Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who also said the gardaí had enforcements, but gardaí relayed to us they were afraid to use those enforcements".
"To me, it’s not good enough. If you’re dangerously driving on the road, and Grace’s Law has been now passed, they should be using those enforcements".
Siobhán said she feels that frontline Gardaí needed better clarity on what actions they are allowed to take when it comes to scrambler bikes.
"The law is there, so they need confidence in the law to do their job, keep people safe", she said.
She went on to mention a recent incident involving their son Jude, when they were cross the road near their local shopping centre when a scrambler bike approached at speed.
"The green man came like it did for Grace", she said.
"Jude, on hearing the green man and seeing the green man, was about to go on his bike and I was following, and Martin dragged the two of us back and he said, 'Siobhán, back, he’s not going to stop", she added. "He came flying up the road doing a wheelie on a scrambler".
Martin Lynch said that he realised the rider of this bike could see properly see the road ahead.
He revealed: "He had the wheel so high we couldn’t see his face, so I knew he couldn’t see what was in front of him".
Elsewhere, the couple stated that they remain overwhelmed by grief, despite the passage getting passed into law.
But they insisted they will continue to campaign until Gardaí fully enforce this law.
"We won’t let this go because it was our child that died," Ms Lynch said. "What we heard today from the coroner was that Grace died of multiple fatal injuries. That’s a hard pill to swallow."
"It’s only a matter of time before it happens again," she added.
Conveying his feelings following the inquest, Mr Lynch said: "It’s another confirmation that she’s not coming home".
"Every day I wake up and want to hear her voice. I pray to hear it".
