The father of a young boy who was killed while out cycling after a driver failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing controlled by a red light, has said there is a need for better enforcement on the roads.
Eight-year-old André Castro Ladeiro died after being struck by a pick-up truck driven by 62-year-old John Moynihan in Carrigaline, Co Cork, in August 2023.
Moynihan, of Parkanillane, Kilnamartrya, Macroom in Co Cork, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of André and was this week jailed for three years with the last year suspended.
Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, Mr Ladeiro said that any time they see a driver breaking the law, "they boil from the inside".
"Any simple things that we see on the road that is against the rules just makes us mad. You cannot imagine how we boil from the inside seeing someone not stopping in a red light.
"It happens. And again there is no conviction, guards cannot be everywhere. It's not their duty to be everywhere," Mr Ladeiro said.
"Enforcement needs to happen," he added.
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Mr Ladeiro also questioned the severity of the sentence handed down.
"The value of my child for the State of Ireland, in this case, that he was killed by dangerous driving, is a two-year sentence."
He also said that the justice system did not provide enough support for his family.
"The other victims are still here, and they are not taken into account during all this process ... We were asked if we wanted to do a victim impact statement, that’s really it."
André was "a great boy", Mr Ladeiro said, and that he had hope at the scene that his son would survive because he was still breathing.
The hope remained as he was transferred to Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street.
"Until the end there is always hope ... until the last scan is performed."
Mr Ladeiro and his wife Filipa said their son "filled our lives with all the most wonderful feelings".
"His smile was contagious, as contagious was his character. He was also involved in different sports, such as gymnastics, swimming, GAA and taekwondo," they said in a statement released following the conclusion of the trial.
"He spread joy and kindness. He was so happy. We were so happy."
