Tributes paid to 'popular' teenager killed in Donegal rally crash

Tributes have been paid to Tadhg Callaghan Carter, who died after he was struck by a car at the Donegal International Rally on Saturday.

The incident occurred shortly before 17.00 local time at the event at Trentagh, close to Kilmacrennan, and involved a participating vehicle in the rally.

Tadhg, aged 15, was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

Gardaí (Irish police) are appealing for witnesses who were present at 'Location 15 on Special Stage 12 Gartan', particularly those with mobile phone or dashcam footage in the area.

Two other spectators were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries following the incident.

The rally was stopped and a decision to cancel the rest of the three-day event was taken as a mark of respect by organisers.

Tadgh had just completed his Junior Cert examinations at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny and was preparing to enter fifth year in September.

In a statement, the school expressed their "profound sadness" at the loss.

They said: "[Tadgh] was a deeply valued and popular member of our school community, and his loss will be felt deeply by his classmates, friends, teachers, and everyone who knew him.

"We extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Tadhg's parents, brother, sisters, extended family and his wide circle of friends at this time of unimaginable grief. Our thoughts, prayers, and support are with them all.

"As a school community, we will come together to support one another, especially Tadhg's classmates and friends, over the difficult days and weeks ahead."

Pauric McGarvey, who is mayor of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District of Donegal County Council, said there was a "great sense of sadness and grief".

He described what had happened at the rally as "everybody's worst nightmare".

"There was a great buzz about the town here and the county for the Donegal International Rally and it just puts life into perspective and how tragic things can happen," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

Motorsport Ireland and Donegal Motor Club said they "express their deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased" and asked that their privacy is respected.

Motorsport Ireland and An Garda Síochána have started an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

It is the first fatality at the Donegal International Rally - one of the biggest motorsport events on the island of Ireland - since three-time winner Manus Kelly died in a crash in 2019.

In 2008, an 18-year-old spectator died when a car left the road and the rest of the rally was cancelled, and six years earlier two marshals died in an incident at the event.

The last spectator fatality at a Motorsport Ireland-sanctioned event was at the Cavan Stages in 2012, when two spectators died in an incident.