A man who struck and fatally injured a young pedestrian at a crossing in Ballina, County Mayo, has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. James Moyles, aged thirty-three, died on February twentieth, two thousand twenty-four, after being hit by a car on Lord Edward Street whilst holding his four-year-old niece's hand. In his final moments, Mr Moyles pushed the child to safety from the oncoming vehicle. Keith O'Brien, aged fifty, of Lowvalley, Crossmolina, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He received a suspended sentence of two and a half years and was disqualified from driving for ten years. Judge Eoin Garavan described Mr Moyles' final act as one of great selflessness, whilst characterising O'Brien as a good man who made a terrible error in judgment. The Moyles family issued a statement calling for improved road safety across Ireland.
Source links
Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.
Public source leads
- Funeral hears how Mayo man James Moyles gave his life to save his beloved niece in fatal Ballina crash - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT
- Inquest hears ‘wonderful’ Mayo man (33) died saving his niece’s life as he pushed her out of way of car as they crossed road - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMT
- Mayo man who sacrificed life to save niece, 6, by pushing her out of way of oncoming car described as 'hero' at inquest - The Irish Sun The Irish Sun · Mon, 20 May 2024 07:00:00 GMT
- Ballina man sacrificed himself to save niece, inquest told - westernpeople.ie westernpeople.ie · Mon, 20 May 2024 07:00:00 GMT
- Heartbroken Mayo family issue poignant road safety appeal - westernpeople.ie westernpeople.ie · Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMT
- National: Tributes pour in for Mayo man killed in tragic crash after saving his niece - Limerick Leader Limerick Leader · Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT
- Judge pays tribute to Mayo man whose actions saved the life of four-year-old niece - The Mayo News The Mayo News · Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMT
- Tributes Paid To 'True Hero' Who Died After Injuries In Mayo Crash As Funeral Details Announced - Extra.ie Extra.ie · Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT
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