Driver admits role in toddler’s death

A man has confessed to gardaí his role in a hit-and-run collision during the bank holiday weekend that left a toddler fatally injured.

The 24-year-old handed himself into a garda station 20 minutes after the incident, which occurred on a bright Monday evening in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Venessa Siatka, aged two, suffered traumatic head injuries when the car driven by the man clipped her at around 6.30pm.

The collision sent the girl, who was with her mother, Kasia, at the time, onto the bonnet and then the roof of the car.

The toddler died in her mother’s arms at 1.30am at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Gardaí say the tragedy has devastated Ms Siatka and her husband Lukasz, both of Polish origin and living in Dublin.

The driver, who is from nearby Cabra, left the scene, but went to a garda station some 20 minutes later. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and a sample was taken.

Sources said he gave a full admission and appeared to be remorseful.

The man’s detention was extended at lunchtime and detectives were in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was expected to be either charged and held in custody pending a court appearance this morning or released pending a full file to the DPP.

Gardaí did not consider the man a flight risk. He is previously known to gardaí for public order and drug offences.

There were quite a number of witnesses to the tragedy. Gardaí also appealed to people who were in the area beforehand and who may have seen the car, a 02 D registration green Toyota Corolla, driving erratically near the visitors centre to contact Cabra Station 01 666 7400.

Meanwhile, the family of 16-month-old Annalise McDonagh are maintaining a bedside vigil after Annalise was knocked down in the driveway of her grandparents’ home over the weekend.

The toddler, from Tuam, Co Galway, was seriously injured when a family member accidentally reversed his vehicle over her.

The accident happened at about 6pm on Monday in Kilbannon, near Tuam.

Annalise was taken to hospital in Galway before being transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin. Gardaí are investigating the incident.

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