Teenager accused of causing Grace Lynch’s death appears in court

A teenager has appeared in court charged with causing the of a teenage girl in a crash involving a scrambler motorbike in Dublin on Sunday.

Keith Lee, 18, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday morning.

Sixteen-year-old Grace Lynch was walking along Ratoath Road in Finglas when the crash happened at around 2.20pm on Sunday.

She was brought to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where she later died from her injuries.

Lee, with an address on Park View Drive in Poppintree Park, appeared before Judge Aine Clancy on Tuesday accused of driving causing Ms Lynch’s death, under Section 53 and 53a of the Road Traffic Act 2011. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Wayne Kenny, the lawyer for the accused, described Ms Lynch’s death as “an unspeakable tragedy”.

The court heard how she was at a pedestrian crossing when a motorbike travelled through the lights as they turned red, followed by a second bike which hit Ms Lynch.

Garda Thomas McDaniel said the bike was travelling at a speed “suspected to be not below 85 kilometres an hour” in an area which has a 50 kilometres an hour zone, and that the whole incident was caught by a CCTV camera.

He said Lee made no reply when cautioned, but had “fully cooperated” with the investigation.

The accused sat in the dock wearing black trousers and a grey and black hoodie.

The court heard how the part-time mechanic’s mother and brother were in court, and his father passed away “some years ago”.

His mother wept throughout the hearing.

Ms Lynch’s family were not in court.

Mr McDaniel said that Lee and another male were treated for injuries at the scene which were not serious.

The court heard how Lee had no previous convictions.

Ms Clancy granted him bail with a number of conditions including his own 2,500 euro bond with 1,000 euros lodged and an independent surety bond of 2,000 euros with 1,000 euros lodged.

He was also instructed to sign on three times a week at Blanchardstown Garda Station and not to drive any “mechanically propelled vehicle” including cars, scrambler motorbikes or scooters.

Lee must also reside at home addresses and observe a curfew between 11pm and 6am, surrender his passport and not have contact with the deceased’s family.

The Gardai had opposed bail due to the serious nature of the alleged offence

More than 1,000 people gathered on Monday evening to retrace a route taken by Grace on the day she died.

At Plunkett Green, a crowd of friends, neighbours and locals sang the song Grace and released pink balloons into the air.

Her mother Siobhan Lynch thanked people for coming out for the walk, and said watching her daughter “take her last breath was the worst pain imaginable”.

“It’s not something that any parent should have to deal with.”