A four-year-old boy has tragically died in a fatal car collision just days after celebrating his birthday.
The unnamed child, who celebrated his fourth birthday on Saturday, was hit by a car in Farranshock Estate, just 2km from the town of Mullingar, Ireland, not long after 6.30pm yesterday.
The Irish Times reported that the young child had been riding his scooter when he killed.
He was treated at the scene before being taken by ambulance to nearby Mullingar Regional Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination is due to take place.
Pending an examination by police forensic collision investigators, the scene has been preserved.
It is understood that the four-year-old had only recently moved into the estate with his family.
Speaking tearfully, family friend Naveed Iqbal described the child as just ‘a little baby’ and said that it was ‘hard to put words together’.
An unnamed child, who celebrated his fourth birthday on Saturday, was hit by a car in Farranshock Estate, just 2km from the town of Mullingar, Ireland, not long after 6.30pm yesterday
He told The Irish Mirror: ‘We don’t know exactly what happened. A little baby, just four years old.
‘His birthday was on Saturday. It’s a loss for every parent. The parents are in the hospital traumatised and only had a new born baby four weeks ago. The mother is absolutely devastated.’
Local councillor Andrew Duncan, who offered his condolences to the young boy’s family, said that the entire community are ‘in deep shock and saddened’ by the ‘awful tragedy’.
Councillor Duncan told the Irish Mirror: ‘There is a gloom across the whole town of Mullingar and afar.
‘A young boy has lost his life and it’s an absolute tragedy for all concerned, for the boy, his family, neighbours and the driver of the car who is often forgotten.’
Meanwhile, Michael Dollard, Independent councillor and Leas Cathoirleach of Westmeath County Council, said the awful tragedy highlights just ‘how frail a human life is’.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Mr Dollard said: ‘He could have been anyone’s son or grandson. We are also thinking of all the neighbours who rushed to help the young boy following the incident.
‘Our thoughts are with all of those involved. The whole town of Mullingar is absolutely traumatised by what has happened.’
Now, police are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone with camera footage of the incident to come forward in order to assist them with an ongoing investigation.
In an official statement, the force said: ‘Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a fatal traffic collision in Mullingar, County Westmeath, which occurred on Monday, 21st April 2025.
‘Shortly after 6:30pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to a collision in Farranshock Estate, Mullingar, after a young boy was struck by a car.
‘Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users or pedestrians who were in the area at the time and have camera footage (including dash-cam recordings) are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Mullingar Garda Station at 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.’
