Teen tragically killed in motorbike crash

A Mayo teenager who lost his life following a motorbike accident will be laid to rest tomorrow (Tuesday).

Kacper Swierkowski, aged 18, of Knockaphunta Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo and formerly of Jedrzejow, Poland died following the single vehicle collison on the R309 Castlebar to Westport Road on Wednesday. Funeral mass will take place in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar today at 11.30am, followed by private cremation.

He was the loving son of Robert and Jolanta and adored brother of David and Patryk. Kacper will be greatly missed by his heartbroken parents, brothers, grandparents Iza and Henryk and Teresa and all his cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbours and his fellow students in Davitt College.

Gardaí are appealing to any witnesses of the collision to come forward. Additionally, road users with camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, who were in the vicinity at the time are urged to provide this footage to investigating Gardaí.

Kacper was a Leaving Cert student in Davitt College and a past pupil of St Patrick’s NS. He had worked part-time at a local sports store. The teenager was the son of Polish parents, Robert and Jola, who have been living in Castlebar for a number of years. Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere said the news stunned the local community. "Kacper was very popular, unassuming and a hardworking and lovely young man."

A GoFundMe page has been established following the young man’s tragic death. In a moving post on the page, organiser Grzegorz Derengowski said:  ‘’If you knew Jola and Robert, you’d know that they are amazing people and friends. Jola and Robert were always looking for different ways to give back to their community and have helped many of us in our time of need. It’s now our turn to help Jola and Robert and their children as they deal with the loss of Kacper.”