The mother of a teenage girl who was killed after being struck by a scrambler motorbike 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 said she hoped that gardaí would make use of new regulations, known as "Grace's Law", in honour of her daughter.
"They’re there for a reason," said Ms Lynch.
"They’ve (gardaí) 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 was seriously injured after she was struck by a scrambler motorbike at a pedestrian crossing on Rathoath Road, Finglas at approximately 2.20pm on 25 January.
Ms Lynch, who was a fifth year student at St Michael’s Holy Faith Secondary School in Finglas, was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, but died later that evening.
Speaking following the opening of the inquest into her daughter’s death at Dublin District Coroner’s Court, her mother said: "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."
Ms 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 added.
During the brief hearing, Ms 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 post-mortem confirmed that Grace had died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries due to a road traffic collision.
Coroner Dr 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 take the wishes of the Lynch family into account too.
Offering her sympathy to Grace's parents and other family members, Dr Gallahger remarked: "I’m sure today was a difficult day for you, as 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 said.
Mr 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, Mr Lynch accepted it would not happen "straight away."
He said people would end up in coroner’s courts as a result of people using scramblers.
"It shouldn’t happen," he said.
A public campaign led by Grace’s 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.
It is 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 ensures their 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.
