16-Year-Old Girl Killed in Scrambler Motorbike Collision in Dublin

A devastating road collision in Finglas, North Dublin, has resulted in the death of a teenage pedestrian after she was struck by a scrambler motorbike on Sunday afternoon, 25 January 2026, Gardaí (Irish police) confirmed.

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The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised renewed calls for action on scrambler and off-road bike safety on public roads.

The victim named locally as 16-year-old Grace Lynch was walking on Ratoath Road near the junction with Tolka Valley Road at about 2.20 p.m. when the collision occurred.

Emergency services rushed her to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, where she later died from her injuries on Sunday evening. 

According to Garda statements, the scrambler motorcycle, an off-road styled bike often used on public streets despite not being road-legal in many cases, crashed into the teenager while she was on a pedestrian crossing. 

Two males riding the scrambler, one in his late teens and another a male juvenile sustained injuries believed to be non-life-threatening and were treated by emergency services. 

Following the collision, a teenage boy has been arrested and is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Dublin region as investigations continue. 

Gardaí also cordoned off the roadway briefly while technical collision investigators examined the scene before reopening the road.

Officers appealed to the public for witnesses and camera footage from around the time of the collision to assist in the investigation. 

Local councillors and residents expressed profound grief and frustration over the young victim’s death.

People Before Profit Councillor Conor Reddy described the crash as “tragic” and said the community was “devastated”.

He called for greater enforcement and regulation of scrambler bikes, which have been linked to repeated safety concerns in the area. 

Fianna Fáil councillor Keith Connolly echoed these sentiments, noting years of frustration at anti-social behaviour and dangerous riding practices involving scrambler bikes on Dublin streets.

He warned that without effective enforcement and legislative changes, similar tragedies could occur again. 

Scrambler bikes which are designed for off-road use are increasingly seen on city roads in Ireland despite legal and safety constraints.

Community leaders have long pressed authorities to curb illegal use through stronger policing, targeted legislation, and safer designated riding areas. 

The Dublin collision has reignited calls for:

• Tighter enforcement of vehicle roadworthiness and licensing laws
• Greater Garda powers to seize and detain scrambler bikes
• Community and youth engagement to reduce illegal roadside activity
• Public awareness on pedestrian safety and high-risk road behaviour.