Gardaí are investigating whether Clare teen Bryan Lowe, 16, was deliberately targeted before being struck by a van, leading to his death. 

His mother says she believes her son was “murdered”.  

Bryan, from Cloonlara and Westbury, Co Clare, was killed in a hit-and-run at a time when Gardaí believe he was riding an e-motorbike, which was struck by another vehicle that did not remain at the scene.

The teenager was found dead by the side of the L3050 road at Cottage Cross, near Cloonlara village, shortly after 11 pm on a Friday night. The area is about 7km from Limerick, where he attended secondary school. 

His family say their ‘hearts are broken’ and have spoken publicly about their grief, with his mother saying she believes she knows who “murdered” her son, as gardaí continue to hunt for the driver of the vehicle that fled the scene.

“The gards rang me, they called to house for my dna. How bad is my son that they needed DNA. Lord Help me. He was murdered. I know who did it (sic).” His mother wrote on social media.

Now Gardaí are investigating whether Bryan had developed a connection with criminal elements and may have been deliberately targeted. 

Shortly before his death he sent a message to a friend in which he said he was being followed and requested that, if he did not make it home soon, the Gardaí to be contacted.

Gardai said on Sunday they are seeking to locate the driver and occupants of a Skoda Octavia in relation to the fatal hit-and-run.

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