Michelle O’Neill pays tribute to boy killed in Donegal road crash

By Rebecca Black, PA

Tributes have been paid to a nine-year-old boy from Co Tyrone who died in a road crash.

Ronan Wilson, from Kildress, had been visiting Bundoran in Co Donegal.

Gardaí said emergency services were called at around 9.20pm on Saturday after a pedestrian was “struck by a vehicle” on Atlantic Way.

“The pedestrian, a boy aged nine years, was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later,” they said.

“The vehicle involved in the collision failed to remain at the scene.”

On Sunday evening, gardaí said a man in his 20s had been arrested for an alleged offence under the Road Traffic Act in relation to the collision in Bundoran on Saturday evening.

“The male is currently detained at a Garda Station in Donegal under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984,” they said.

“Gardaí have seized a vehicle in connection with the investigation which will undergo technical examination.”

Earlier, gardaí appealed for any potential witnesses to contact Ballyshannon garda station on 074 9858530 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill expressed her sadness.

“Hearts are heavy across the country for the beautiful wee Ronan Wilson,” she posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Ronan’s family and his home community of Kildress at this tragic and saddest of times.”

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said the local community in Kildress is broken-hearted following the death of the nine-year-old.

He has appealed for anyone with dash cam footage from near the scene of the incident on Atlantic Way at 9.20pm on Saturday night to come forward to police.

“The whole community in Kildress and across Tyrone is broken-hearted today. The Wilsons are a well-known local family and this tragedy has shocked us all,” he said.

“My thoughts are with Ronan’s family and friends as they come to terms with this devastating news. I know everyone in Kildress and further afield will be thinking of them and will rally around them in the days ahead.”