Father of boy killed while out cycling in Carrigaline issues road safety plea

André Ladeiro’s heartbroken father César took to social media on Tuesday to mark one month since his passing after a collision between a bike and a car

André Ladeiro is one of more than 130 people killed on Irish roads so far in 2023. Picture: Dan Linehan

The father of a young boy who was killed in a collision in Carrigaline has issued a plea to motorists to be careful when they are driving through the town.

César Ladeiro issued the plea on social media to mark one month since the death of his son André.

The eight-year-old passed away in Temple Street Hospital in Dublin four days after the incident. He had been cycling with a parent when he was struck by a car on the Cork road leading into the town at the Ballinrea roundabout.

Posting on Facebook on Tuesday, Mr Ladeiro wrote: "One month has passed since André's accident here in Carrigaline, in a beautiful morning that turned into a nightmare that we are still on.

"In the same spot, where I go from time to time, I have seen more than three cars in different occasions crossing the red light. Thankfully no person was crossing. Two of those stopped at the roundabout and stay there waiting for their turn to continue their journey."

Mr Ladeiro said that this showed "two things".

"The first: drivers, apparently, only respect other cars. Second: drivers know that nothing will happen to them when they make some road offenses. Other places have automatic penalties, huge fines, or just drivers respecting all road users."

Carrigaline is known by its traffic, and I do guarantee you that crossing Carrigaline at lower speed will get you through/in/out in the same time.

"One month has passed and no change has been made on that crossing, in Carrigaline in general, but it is a matter of time for that to happen."

André Ladeiro is one of more than 130 people killed on Irish roads so far in 2023.

The grim statistic has led to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) launching a new awareness campaign on Tuesday, aiming to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads to zero by the year 2050.