Courts / Mayo / Report
Man died pushing niece to safety, court hears
Summary
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.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man died pushing niece to safety, court hears. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing death to Mr Moyles. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 20, 2024 Other
- 2025-10-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: dangerous driving causing death to Mr Moyles (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Keith O'Brien (50) of Lowvalley, Crossmolina, was yesterday given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for 10 years at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He set a headline sentence of three and a half years but reduced this to two and a half years suspended, describing O'Brien as a "good man who made a terrible error". "He showed utter failure to drive properly and appalling lack of judgement.
Places mentioned
- Mount Assumpta Terrace
- Ballina
- Crossmolina
- Lord Edward Street
- Castlebar
- Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court
- Mayo University Hospital
Topics
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