'The whole community is under a cloud': Teens killed in Waterford crash named locally

The Mayor of Waterford City and County says people across the Deise are still trying to comprehend the death of two teenage boys in a road crash earlier this week.

The boys, who died when an e-scooter was in collision with a bus at Cork Road, Waterford, have been named locally as Gilbert Collins, 15, and Abuzwa Idris, 17.

Both lived in the Ballybeg area of Waterford, close to the scene of the crash. Gilbert, who recently completed his Junior Cert exams, was pronounced dead at the scene while Abuzwa was taken to Waterford University Hospital with serious injuries, where he later died.

The driver of the JJ Kavanagh-operated bus was not physically injured.

Tributes have been made for the two young teenagers who tragically lost their lives, with friends of the boys leaving heartfelt messages across their social media accounts.

Friends of Gilbert left messages on the teenager's last post on TikTok, with one friend adding 'fly high Gilly'.

Many other friends referred to Gilbert as 'bro' in their condolence messages, and added that he would be 'sadly missed'. 

Speaking this Friday morning, Cllr Jason Murphy said everyone's thoughts were with the families of the deceased. "The whole community has been under a cloud since yesterday - we can only imagine what both families are going through for two young boys to die as such a young age," he told Newstalk Breakfast.

"It's very hard for us to comprehend what has happened with both of them taken away in such  tragic circumstances early on Thursday morning - everyone is processing it," he added.

Cllr Murphy, who know both boys, said his thoughts are also with the bus driver and his family. "My thoughts are just with the families of the poor deceased boys and the bus driver. Now, in this moment, our thoughts and prayers should be with the families who are going through and awful time and they need time to mourn their poor boys to be honest."

The Mayor of Waterford City and County said any discussion about the use e-scooters and safety should take place at an appropriate time in the future.