The 12-year-old victim of Friday's crash near Adare in Co Limerick has been named as Wiktor Chojecki.

The first year pupil died when the car he was driving was involved in a head-on crash with a truck on the N21.

Emergency services were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been taken to the morgue at University Hospital Limerick.

The driver of the truck - a man aged in his 40s - did not need hospital treatment.

Monsignor Dan Neenan, who was one of the first on the scene, told The Hard Shoulder he got a call early Friday morning.

"I was called by the Guards at around 4 in the morning, and told that there was a fatal accident very close to the village of Adare.

"So obviously I went straight away, and clearly the Guards were just trying to get the little boy - that's really what he was at 12 years of age - to get Wiktor out of the car.

"So once they had him out I anointed him, I blessed him and said some prayers."

Monsignor Neenan says he was struck by the sheer number of emergency personnel, "but also the eerie silence.

"It was deeply touching to see the respect and the dignity, but there was also great, great shock amongst all the people there".

'Incredibly awful'

Monsignor Neenan says Wiktor's parents then arrived from Newcastle West.

"The Guards were bringing his mom and dad, so we waited for them - it was quite a wait.

"But to see them having to come and identify their son was just harrowing.

"They arrived and they spent a while on their own with Wiktor.

"Then I went, and I don't know what I said, but I was there with them for a while and we said some prayers.

"I invited them to say some prayers in Polish as well.

"What struck me maybe most of all was the way the parents thanked everybody for what they had done for their son.

"For the care and respect they had shown - that even, I suppose, their lowest lowest moment they were able to think of other people and show gratitude.

"Everybody is touched by what has happened, it is so incredibly awful.

"But none of us should ever forget the pain is the family, and what they have to carry is such an incredibly heavy burden".

    

'Greatly missed by all who knew him'

The principal of Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, where Wiktor attended, says this is a terrible tragedy.

Seán Lane says: "We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with Wiktor’s family and friends.

"Wiktor was a first year student and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

"Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated."

Mr Lane says the school has implemented its critical incident management plan.

"A psychologist from NEPS has been with us all day supporting and advising teachers in their efforts to assist our students at this time.

"The teachers have been helping students to deal with the tragic event.

"We would ask you to respect our privacy at this time", he adds.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, particularly those with dashcam footage.

Anyone with information can contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069-20650, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station.