A devastated father has spoken of the moment he watched his eight-year-old son get struck and killed by a pickup truck while cycling, after the driver failed to stop at a red light at a pedestrian crossing.
Little André Castro Ladeiro was crossing the road with the right of way when John Moynihan, 62, ploughed into him in Carrigaline, Co Cork, on August 12, 2023.
The Portuguese youngster, who had been living in Ireland since 2019, was rushed to hospital but tragically died four days later.
Moynihan, a father-of-four, admitted dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final year suspended.
He was also banned from driving for six years.
In harrowing testimony at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, André’s heartbroken father, César Ladeiro, recalled the horrifying moment his son was killed.
‘The bang and him disappearing. I saw it then and every day since. No braking lights on that Ford Ranger Wildtrak. André was just a leaf in the road for that driver.
The grieving father recounted how he dialed 112 as bystanders rushed to help. His wife Filipa, a nurse, instinctively knew the situation was dire.
André Castro Ladeiro, five, was crossing the road with the right of way when John Moynihan, 62, ploughed into him in Carrigaline, Co Cork, on August 12, 2023
In harrowing testimony at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, André’s heartbroken father, César Ladeiro, right, recalled the horrifying moment his son was killed
John Moynihan, 62, admitted dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final year suspended
‘Filipa knew better than me how André was in that moment. I did not realise it until much later.
‘While waiting for the ambulance, André was breathing. Weakly, but breathing. Unfortunately, it was only on the way to the hospital that I realised how serious this accident was.’
‘CUH did surgery to open André’s scalp and bone and try to stabilise him but could not handle André’s case’.
Despite emergency surgery at Cork University Hospital, André was transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where he died on August 16.
César described the unbearable pain of knowing his son followed the rules, waiting for the green pedestrian signal before crossing – only for Moynihan to run the red light and hit him.
‘He (the driver) did not stop in a red light, had no awareness of the road and surroundings, did not try to turn or evade his (Andre’s) direction, and did not do an emergency stop.
‘Before crossing André waited for the green man. This driver’s actions killed my son.’
André’s younger brother, Tomas, just five years old at the time, witnessed the crash and was due to start at the same school as his brother just weeks later.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Filipa Ladeiro described living in agony since her son’s death.
‘We live day by day, sometimes hour by hour,’ she said. ‘There are countless days when I feel lost and I just want to feel close to him.
‘Living this terrible trauma also is André’s brother who witnessed everything at only five years old. The impact on his life is unspeakable.’
She also spoke of André’s joyful personality, how he thrived in Ireland, and how he was always eager to help others.
‘He spread joy and kindness. He was so happy.’
Despite emergency surgery at Cork University Hospital, André was transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, where he died on August 16, 2023
In an emotional victim impact statement, mother Filipa Ladeiro, left, described living in agony since her son’s death
Judge Dermot Sheehan offered his condolences to André’s grieving family, calling their loss ‘horrific’ and acknowledging that no words could ease their suffering.
‘The line of sight for the accused was more than adequate. He had plenty of time to see what was going on.
‘He wasn’t driving at speed. However, he drove through a red light. Not only that he drove through a pedestrian crossing.
‘If the driver is watching he should be alert to the presence of pedestrians. He didn’t see what was directly in front of him. He didn’t apply the brake. No sign of him being aware of the pedestrian’.
While noting that Moynihan had expressed deep remorse and suffered PTSD following the crash, the judge insisted a prison sentence was necessary.
Moynihan, who owns a crane hire company and has no previous convictions, told gardaí he wished he could ‘roll back the clock.’
His defence team said he would ‘continue to suffer to the end of his days’ for what had happened.
At André’s funeral, his devastated father spoke of the joy his son brought into their lives.
‘He taught us how to live with our heart outside of our body and how to smile every single day and be grateful,’ he said.
The young boy’s funeral was attended by hundreds, with members of Carrigaline GAA providing a guard of honour as he was buried at All Souls Cemetery in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
Among the offertory gifts were his sporting medals and a finger painting of his handprints.
