Peter Mulcaire had been playing outside when he was hit (Picture: Getty)

An ‘angel’ two-year-old boy who died after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run incident in Co Limerick has been named.

Peter Mulcaire had been playing on a toy tractor when he was hit by a Jeep in Rathkeale on Saturday.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident,which happened just before 4:00pm yesterday.

A neighbour said of little Peter: ‘I’ve never seen sadder. Rest in peace to our little neighbour Peter,may God comfort his family tonight.

‘I’m so sorry for your loss; my heart breaks for his family,a little angel.’

In a statement,the Garda said: ‘The boy was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick by a family member for treatment of serious injuries.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.‘He was subsequently pronounced deceased. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.’The vehicle involved in the smash did not remain at the scene,they added.‘A male driver of the vehicle,aged in his 30s,was subsequently arrested at a different location by Gardaí on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant,’ the Garda said.‘The male was conveyed to a Garda Station in Co Limerick for the purposes of providing a blood/urine evidential sample. He has since been released pending analysis of the evidential sample. The investigation is ongoing.’Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.