Father of hit-and-run victim says vehicle was used as 'weapon of destruction'

Marguerita O’Rourke, 21, died after her uncle deliberately drove his van into a set of steel gates she was standing behind on December 21, 2024

Marguerita (Maggie) O'Rourke, Rathkeale, Limerick, had given birth to her first child, Edward, three weeks prior to her death, the court heard.

The family of a young Traveller woman killed by her uncle in a hit and run in Rathkeale, last Christmas, said that their lives “changed forever” when she died.

Marguerita O’Rourke nee Sheridan, 21, died after her uncle, Danny “Big Dan” O’Donoghue, aged 43, deliberately drove his van into a set of steel gates that she was standing behind on December 21, 2024.

She had given birth to her first child, Edward, three weeks prior to her death, the sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, heard on Wednesday.

O’Donoghue’s barrister, John Bowman, argued the defendant was “unaware” his niece had been standing behind the screened double-gates, when he slammed into them.

“It is a tragedy of epic and enormous proportions on all of the families involved,” Mr Bowman said.

Ms O’Rourke was sent backwards in the impact, and never regained consciousness.

A loud bang, followed by Ms O’Rourke’s mother’s screams at the scene, echoed through the courtroom as gardaí played CCTV footage of the fatal ramming.

Detective Garda Elaine O’Keeffe told the court that due to ongoing “tensions” between families in Rathkeale, a ramming of property had “become the norm”.

Ms O’Rourke’s mother, Margaret “Doite” Sheridan, had been bringing her some food at the time and was only a few feet away across the street when the impact occurred.

Ms Sheridan identified her bother as the driver of the van when gardaí arrived.

Detective Garda O’Keeffe said O’Donoghue could be heard in the CCTV footage, screaming at his sister to “get out town” as he drove away from the scene.

The court heard that Mr O’Donoghue had no issue with his niece, however there were regular tensions between feuding parties linked to their families who were interrelated through marriage.

The deceased’s husband, Denis O’Rourke, who was not present at the hearing, wrote in a victim impact statement: “Whatever feud existed between our families nothing could excuse what [O’Donoghue] did.” 

This was an attempt to terrorise my entire family and it was intimidation designed to keep us living in fear.

Ms O’Rourke’s father, John Sheridan, who also was not in court, wrote in a victim impact statement that his daughter’s death has had “a profound and devastating effect” on his family,.

“Marguerita was a kind, loving, wonderful daughter, and she was a natural mother to her little son, Edward, who was born in the UK. She couldn’t wait to bring him home to us for Christmas.” 

“It was going to be such a joyous time for us, instead we had to face the horrendous reality of her death.” 

Mr Sheridan said: “We urge the court to impose a [custodial] sentence on the accused who used his vehicle as a weapon of destruction to cause fatal injuries to our daughter.” 

“Holding the accused accountable is important to my wife and me, but it is also important to our community,” he said.

O’Donoghue, of Lower Main St, Rathkeale, handed himself in to gardaí two days after the fatal ramming.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, criminal damage, producing a machete during the course of a dispute, and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

O’Donghue later said in a letter to his sister: “It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart, I’m the person who did this terrible sin, it makes me sick to my stomach.” 

O’Donoghue had six previous convictions including dangerous driving, careless driving, disorderly conduct, failing to comply with a Garda’s directions, and causing minor bodily harm in Germany in March 2023 for which he received a €330 fine.

Judge Colin Daly remanded O’Donoghue in continuing custody to appear before the court again for sentencing on January 21, 2026.