A two-year-old boy is in a serious condition in hospital after a hit-and-run in Cork city.
The toddler received the injuries when he ran onto the road while playing with a ball near Castle Meadows on the Skehard Road in Mahon on the city's southside at about 4pm on Monday.
The boy was struck by a blue Mazda 6 which failed to stop.
Gardaí are satisfied from their inquiries that the driver was aware that they had struck the child but failed to remain at the scene.
The boy was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Cork University Hospital. He was later transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin where it’s understood his condition remained critical on Monday night.
Gardaí later found a car matching the description of the vehicle involved abandoned in nearby Ballinure.
No arrests have been made and gardaí have appealed to the public for assistance.
They have begun door to door inquiries and are harvesting CCTV footage in an effort to try and identify the driver of the car involved.
Anyone who may have witnessed the hit and run or who may have seen a blue Mazda 6 in the area or has any information that might assist is asked to contact Anglesea Street garda station on 021-4522000.
