Boy (14) killed in stolen car in Cork

Gardaí have launched an investigation into the death of a 14-year-old boy who was killed when the stolen car in which he was travelling went out of control and crashed into a tree in Cork city early yesterday morning.

Officers were yesterday trying to establish whether the boy was a front seat passenger or the driver of the white Honda Civic when it went out of control,smashed through a railing and collided with a tree on the Monaghan Road at about 12.20am.

The boy was named locally as William O'Dwyer from Nutley Avenue in Mahon on Cork's southside and his family were yesterday being comforted by relatives and friends.

The alarm was raised by a resident in the Victoria Road area who heard the crash, and Cork City fire brigade, an ambulance crew and gardaí responded to the call and found the boy seriously injured in the car. It is understood he died at the scene, while a 17-year-old youth was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

The youth - who is from the Ravensdale Road area of Mahon - was yesterday described as being in a stable condition in hospital, but it may be several days before he is well enough to be interviewed.

There were no witnesses to the crash, but gardaí believe it may have happened when the driver swerved to avoid a parked lorry and lost control of the car.

Gardaí also believe there may have been a third teenager in the car, who fled the scene on foot, and officers are hoping to identify and locate him for interview.

Green Party councillor Chris O'Leary said news of the tragedy had shocked the community. "People here are feeling numb at the news - the loss of such a young life is very tragic and people have a deep sympathy for the families involved."