Case No. 0361Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Meath · 25 Aug 2026
Cyclist TJ McDonnell killed in hit-and-run in Kells, Co Meath; man in 30s arrested and released
19-year-old TJ McDonnell, from Durhamstown, Bohermeen, was killed when a van struck him while cycling in Nugentstown, Kells, Co Meath, at about 8.05pm on 25 August 2026. He was cycling with a friend, reportedly training for an Ironman competition, and the van driver failed to remain at the scene. A man in his 30s, understood to be the van driver, was arrested on 26 August and released without charge. Gardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions and have appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage from the time of the incident.
- Reported26 Aug
2 reports - Arrested30 Aug
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 19-year-old TJ McDonnell was killed when a van struck him while cycling in Nugentstown, Kells, Co Meath.
- The van driver failed to remain at the scene after the collision.
- McDonnell was cycling with a friend, reportedly training for an Ironman competition, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Nugentstown, Kells, Co Meath, and the victim's body was conveyed to the mortuary at Our Lady's Hospital Navan.
- When
- The collision occurred at about 8.05pm on Tuesday 25 August 2026.
- Investigation
- A man in his 30s, understood to be the van driver, was arrested on Wednesday 26 August, detained at a local Garda station, and released without charge.
- Gardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions and have appealed for witnesses with dashcam or mobile phone footage from 7:30pm to 8:30pm on 25 August.
- A post-mortem examination is to be conducted and the local coroner has been notified.
- Other details
- Over €55,000 was raised via GoFundMe for McDonnell's family from more than 1,200 donations against an initial target of €5,000.
- McDonnell, from Durhamstown, Bohermeen, was a member of Cole's Gym in Kells and had competed in Hyrox events.
34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe collision involved a van and a bicycle. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver of the van fled the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cyclist was an adult male aged in his late teens. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTJ McDonnell was 19 years old at the time of his death (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTJ McDonnell was killed in a hit-and-run collision (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTJ McDonnell was cycling with a friend at the time (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTJ McDonnell was training for an Ironman competition (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe van driver failed to remain at the scene after the collision (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCyclist TJ McDonnell was fatally injured in a hit-and-run in Kells, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDonnell was training for a cycling event with a friend when he was hit. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe van did not remain at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcDonnell was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred in Nugentstown, Kells, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim's body was conveyed to the mortuary at Our Lady's Hospital Navan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereTJ McDonnell was from Durhamstown, Bohermeen (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Nugentstown, Kells, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe collision occurred shortly after 8pm on Tuesday 25 August 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred shortly after 8pm on 25 August 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at about 8.05pm on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA post-mortem examination will be conducted in due course. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe local coroner has been notified. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí closed the road overnight and put local diversions in place. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses with dashcam or mobile phone footage from 7:30pm to 8:30pm on 25 August 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 30s, understood to be the driver of the van, was arrested on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was detained at a local Garda station and has since been released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOver €55,000 was raised via GoFundMe for TJ McDonnell's family (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOver 1,200 donations were made towards the fundraising (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe initial fundraising target was €5,000 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTJ McDonnell was a member of Cole's Gym in Kells (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTJ McDonnell had competed in Hyrox events (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcDonnell was an avid cyclist and Gaelic football player reportedly training for an Ironman event. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Aug2026Man (30s) arrested after cyclist killed in Co Meath hit and run
Initial report of the fatal hit-and-run, the arrest and release of the suspected driver, and the Gardaí appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage.
victim, TJ McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)TJ McDonnellsuspect, 30s, male - 29 Aug2026Over €55k raised for teen killed in hit-and-run while training for Ironman event
Follow-up article reporting on the GoFundMe fundraising (over €55,500 from 1,200+ donations) for TJ McDonnell's family and tributes from Cole's Gym in Kells, where he was described as a hugely popular member and gifted athlete.
victim, TJ McDonnell, 19, male, irish (judged from name)TJ McDonnellsuspect - 26 Aug2026Teen cyclist killed in horror hit-and-run involving van as Gardai close road
Initial report of the fatal hit-and-run, providing scene details, the victim's age and sex, the van driver's failure to remain, and the Gardaí appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
victim, late teens, malesuspect