Father of boy (8) killed by dangerous driver in Cork urges motorists to be vigilant

The father of an eight-year-old boy, who was killed by a dangerous driver in Cork in 2023, has said their family feels “a bit of relief” following the conviction of the motorist.

César Ladeiro appeared on Cork’s Red FM yesterday morning to speak to show host, Neil Prendeville, about the harrowing death of his son, André, and the aftermath of the court case, which saw 62-year-old, John Moynihan, of Parkanillane, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co Cork, plead guilty to dangerous driving and sentenced to three years, with the third year suspended.

Mr Ladeiro said that despite his and his wife Filipa’s wishes to turn back time, Mr Moynihan’s conviction last week at Cork District Court “closes a chapter” for the family.

“At the end of the week, we somehow felt a bit of relief,” said Mr Ladeiro.

“It is what we were looking for since day one, knowing that he was convicted, it was good to see him going to prison.”

The incident, which led to the death of eight-year-old André, occurred in Carrigaline on August 12, 2023, when André, his father, and younger brother Tomás were cycling on the Cork Road near the Ballinrea roundabout at approximately 9.20am.

At the time of the incident, André was travelling through a pedestrian crossing, which had a green light in his favour, when he was struck by a vehicle.

Following the collision, André was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, before later being transferred to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin. He subsequently died four days later.

“I remember waking up early that day, André and Tomas woke up a few minutes after I was already downstairs — it was a sunny day, and we decided during breakfast we were going to cycle, like so many other days,” said Mr Ladeiro.

“André was just a few meters ahead of me, he asked me if he could go ahead to press the button [at the pedestrian crossing], and he did, and we were waiting for the green man.

“[When the green man appeared] he started crossing.

“I saw him vanishing in front of my eyes,” he added.

“We had our hopes going up and down every moment [while he was in hospital] but there were no reactions from André, he was just laying there.

“Sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night and hope that this is just a bad dream.

“A car is a weapon — people need to be aware that those consequences are there, and just keep your eyes on the road and your surroundings.”

Mr Ladeiro added that since the death of André, his and Filipa’s priority has been raising their two remaining sons, one of whom was born only six months ago.