A destroyed father spoke about the moment he saw his eight-year-old son being hit and killed by a pick-up while cycling, after the driver could not stop at a red light at a pedestrian transition.
Little André Castro Ladeiro crossed the road with the right side when John Moynihan, 62, on 12 August 2023 in him in Carigaline, Co Cork Ploed.
The Portuguese young person, who lived in Ireland since 2019, was taken to the hospital, but died tragically four days later.
Moynihan, a father of four, admitted a dangerous driving that caused death and was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended with the last year.
He was also not allowed to drive for six years.
In moving witness to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court, André's deeply sad father, César Ladeiro, remembered the horrible moment that his son was murdered.
“The bang and he disappear. I saw it then and since then every day. No braking light on that Ford Ranger Wild tract. André was just a magazine on the road for that driver.
The grieving father told how he called 112 when bystanders hurried to help. His wife Filipa, a nurse, instinctively knew that the situation was terrible.
André Castro Ladeiro, Five, crossed the road with the right side when John Moynihan, 62, on 12 August 2023 in him in Carigaline, Cor Cork Plode
In a harrowing testimony to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court, André's deeply sad father, César Ladeiro, similar to the horrible moment that his son was killed
John Moynihan, 62, admitted a dangerous driving that caused death and was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended with the last year
“Filipa knew better than me how André was like at the time. I realized it much later.
'In anticipation of the ambulance, André breathed. Weak but breathable. Unfortunately it was only on my way to the hospital that I realized how serious this accident was. '
“Cuh was operated on to open André's scalp and bone and tried to stabilize him, but couldn't handle André's case.”
Despite the emergency operation in the Cork University Hospital, André was transferred to the Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where he died on August 16.
César described the unbearable pain to know that his son followed the rules, waiting for the green pedestrian signal before he crossed – only for Moynihan to let the red light run and hit him.
'He (the driver) did not put in a red light, had not aware of the road and the surroundings, did not try to turn around or avoid his (Andre's) direction and did not do an emergency stop.
“Before he crossed André for the green man. My son killed the actions of this driver. '
The younger brother of André, Tomas, then only five years old, witnessed the crash and would start the same school only a few weeks later as his brother.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Filipa Ladeiro described life in pain since the death of her son.
“We live day after day, sometimes hour after hour,” she said. 'There are countless days that I feel lost and I just want to feel close to him.
'The life of this terrible trauma is also the brother of André who witnessed only five years old. The impact on his life is unspeakable. '
She also spoke about André's joyful personality, how he flourished in Ireland and how he always wanted to help others.
“He spread joy and kindness. He was so happy. '
Despite the emergency operation at Cork University Hospital, André was transferred to the Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where he died on August 16, 2023
In an emotional victim impact statement, mother Filipa Ladeiro described, left, life in pain since the death of her son
Judge Dermot Sheehan offered his participation in André's grieving family, called their loss 'horrible' and acknowledged that no words could alleviate their suffering.
'The line of sight for the suspect was more than sufficient. He had enough time to see what was going on.
“He didn't rode on speed. However, he drove through a red light. Not only that he drove through a pedestrian transition.
'If the driver looks, he must be alert to the presence of pedestrians. He did not see what was right before him. He did not apply the brake. No sign that he is aware of the pedestrian '.
While he noticed that Moynihan had pronounced deep remorse and PTSD had suffered after the crash, the judge insisted that a prison sentence was needed.
Moynihan, who owns a crane rental company and has no earlier convictions, told Gardaí that he wanted him to turn the clock back. '
His defense team said that he would “continue to suffer until the end of his days” for what had happened.
At André's funeral, his destroyed father spoke about the joy that his son brought into their lives.
“He taught us how to live with our hearts outside of our body and how we can smile and be grateful every day,” he said.
The funeral of the young boy was attended by hundreds, with members of Carrigaline Gaa offered an honorary guard when he was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Ringaskiddy, Cor Cork.
Under the quotty gifts were his sporty medals and a finger painting of his handprints.
