The parents of teenager Grace Lynch, who died in January after being hit by a scrambler bike, have said they plan to campaign to ensure the laws enacted in memory of their daughter are properly enforced by An Garda Síochána.
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time following the adjournment of the inquest into their daughter's death, Siobhán and Martin Lynch said they want to see gardaí make full use of Grace’s Law.
It bans the use of scrambler bikes in public places.
Grace Lynch, 16, died after she was struck at a pedestrian crossing on the Rathoath Road in Finglas on 25 January this year.
New regulations introduced in April ban the use of scramblers and similar off-road vehicles in public places and provide gardaí with expanded powers to seize and destroy them.
Asked what the introduction of the law meant to her family, Grace’s mother Siobhán said "it meant a legacy for Grace... that she’ll always be remembered".
She added: "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.
"She shouldn’t have died for that law, but she deserves that law."
The couple said they are seeking greater clarity around how the legislation 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," she added.
"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."
Mr Lynch said her view is frontline gardaí needed certainty around what actions they are empowered to take.
"The law is there, so they need confidence in the law to do their job, keep people safe," he said.
The couple also described a recent incident involving their young son, Jude, which they said highlighted the continuing danger posed by scramblers in public areas.
Ms Lynch said the family had been crossing 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’."
"He came flying up the road doing a wheelie on a scrambler."
Mr Lynch said he realised the rider could not properly see the road ahead.
"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," he said.
Overwhelming grief
Despite the passage of the new law, the couple said their grief remains overwhelming, but they say they remain steadfast in their campaign.
"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.
Describing their feelings following the inquest hearing earlier, 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."
