TRIBUTES have been paid to a young teenager whose road death over the bank holiday weekend has rocked the small community of Clare Island, Co. Mayo.
Morgan Pinder, 13, from Gurteen on the island, suffered fatal injuries in a single-vehicle collision at around 1am on Sunday morning.
A passing motorist alerted emergency services, but the youngster was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
An Garda Síochána sent a forensic collision investigation team out to the island yesterday morning to examine the scene of the crash.
It's understood Morgan was the sole occupant of a car which collided with a ditch in an area known as The Quay.
The tragic teen was a pupil at St Patrick’s National School on the island and was due to start secondary school in September.
His death notice reads: "Morgan Pinder 2005 ~ 2018 (Gurteen, Clare Island, Co. Mayo) August 5th 2018, following a road traffic accident.
Buachaill óg a maraíodh ar oileán Cliara i dtimpiste bhóthair ainmithe go háitiúil - Morgan Pinder, 13 bliain d’aois. 13 year old teenager killed in road accident on Clare Island named locally as Morgan Pinder @NuachtRTE @NuachtTG4 @rtenews pic.twitter.com/BwCzcsOOxo
— Sinéad Ní Neachtain (@SineadNiN) August 5, 2018
"Loving youngest and cherished son of Tom and Maureen (née O’Grady), and special younger brother to Christian, Dylan, and Jack. Deeply mourned by his heartbroken parents, brothers, grandparents Margaret and Tom Pinder, uncles, aunts, grand- uncles and aunts, cousins, school friends, and the Island community.
"Your time was short yet precious".
Morgan's remains were returned to the island last night following a post-mortem examination at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar.
His mother Maureen is the manager of the local community centre, and the Pinder family have been described as being very well-known on the island.
Louisburgh GAA club has postponed two matches this week as a mark of respect to the family.
Due to the tragic death of Morgan Pinder, as a mark of respect the Senior match due to take place tomorrow & U16 match Tuesday are postponed. Our Deepest Sympathies to The Pinder family and The Community of Clare Island. May his gentle soul Rest in Peace.
— Louisburgh GAA (@LouisburghGAA) August 5, 2018
"Due to the tragic death of Morgan Pinder, as a mark of respect the Senior match due to take place tomorrow & U16 match Tuesday are postponed," the club said in a statement on Twitter.
"Our Deepest Sympathies to The Pinder family and The Community of Clare Island.
"May his gentle soul Rest in Peace."
Local councillor Christy Hyland described the schoolboy's death as a "terrible tragedy".
He told the Irish Daily Mirror: "My thoughts are with the family at this time, it’s so sad to hear of someone so young losing their life – he had his whole life in front of him.
"Now all we are thinking of is the pain of the bereaved family and the sadness of the funeral that is to come."
Ian McCabe of Clare Island Co-op said islanders were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
"The community is utterly devastated today. We’re still reeling from this absolutely tragic accident," he told RTÉ News.
Morgan will lie in repose today at the family home in Gurteen from 2pm to 7pm.
His funeral mass will take place at 1pm tomorrow at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Clare Island, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
