Waterford mother calls for banning of e-bikes after son dies

Sean Ryan

The heartbroken mother of a teenager who lost his life on an e-bike a fortnight ago has called on them to be banned.

Sammy Hanrahan (18) from Ballybeg in Waterford city lost his life when the e-bike he was riding was in collision with a car on the Cork Road in Waterford City at 7:45pm on Sunday, November 16th. He later died in Cork University Hospital.

Speaking on local radio in Waterford, his mother, Jane Browne, said: "The tragedy has highlighted what is a growing and unregulated danger on the roads.

"E-bikes reach high speeds and offer no insurance, putting riders and other road users at risk. They should not be left on the road.

You could be blue in the face telling young fellows not to use them, but sure, they will.

Her son only had the bike for over a week. She added: "The safety stuff came with it so he was planning to be safe."

Her calls comes with the news from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that e-scooter-related brain injuries now account for over 25 per cent of paediatric neurosurgical admissions in CHI at Temple Street in the past year.

According to Dr Irwin Gill, Consultant Paediatrician at CHI, around half of these children required intensive care, and almost half underwent emergency neurosurgery, with some left with permanent disabilities.

Chief executive of the RSA, Sam Waide, said: “These findings are deeply concerning. E-scooters are not toys — they are powerful motorised vehicles, and the risks for children are severe.

"Our message is simple: if your child is under 16, an e-scooter is not a suitable or legal gift.

"This campaign is about protecting children from preventable harm and ensuring every parent understands the potential consequences.”