Tragic little boy didn't get to open his birthday gifts

A LITTLE boy - who was one of three people to lose their lives in a weekend of carnage - had only celebrated his fourth birthday with a party on Saturday and had not even opened all of his presents.

- BY NICOLA DONNELLY

Named locally as Abdur Rehman, the boy was hit by a car in the Farranshock Park estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath while making his way to a green area on his push scooter shortly after 6.30pm on Easter Monday.

He is the third person to have lost their lives in collisions over the weekend.

On Easter Sunday, Jason Monks, 18, died when the scrambler motor-bike he was riding on collided with a car on Citywest Avenue in Dublin.

And motorcyclist David O'Carroll, 23, from Shanagolden in Limerick, died after a collision between his motorbike and a car also on Easter Monday in Ardagh, Limerick.

Four-year-old Abdur-whose birthday was last Tuesday - was treated at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Mullingar Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The horror incident was witnessed by some residents in the estate who are "deeply shocked" and "devastated," while the little boy's grieving parents have been left 'traumatised.

According to a close family friend, Abdur had only celebrated his fourth birthday with a party on Saturday and the little boy didn't get to open all of his presents before the tragedy occurred.

"He didn't get to open all of his gifts" said Naveed Iqbal, who broke down in tears at the scene yesterday morning.