A man who was arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year-old girl in a hit-and-run incident in Co Meath has been released without charge, gardaí said.
Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe was walking her dog on the Slane Road in Navan at about 8.20pm on Saturday when she was struck by a car. Both she and the dog were killed.
In a post on social media, her father Stephen O’Keeffe said his heart is “smashed” and he is “broken”, before pleading with any witnesses to come forward.
The driver of the car, a man in his 20s, was later arrested in connection with the investigation. His vehicle was seized by gardaí for a technical and forensic examination.
READ MORE
In a statement on Monday morning, the Garda said he had been released. A file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A GoFundMe account set up to help the Keogh O’Keeffe family has already raised more than €22,000.
It said she was just “moments from her home” when the collision occurred.
“She was only 16 years old and had her whole life ahead of her. She leaves behind her heartbroken mam Louise, dad Stephen, her sister Katelyn and her brothers Kai, Zack and Cole, along with so many friends and loved ones who are devastated by her loss.
“At this unimaginably painful time, we are asking for any support you can give, no matter how big or small, to help ease the financial burden on her family as they lay their beautiful girl to rest.”
Mia Lily’s school, Loreto St Michael’s in Navan, said it had support structures in place to help pupils in the aftermath of the fifth-year student’s death and it has sought guidance from the National Educational Psychology Services.
In a statement the school said it and “the whole Loreto Community is deeply saddened by the tragic death”.
“We would like to express our sincere condolences to Mia Lily’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time.”
Mia Lily, who is understood to have been highly gifted at arts and crafts, had been preparing to head off with her friends on a school trip in the coming weeks.
