Mayo family ask drivers to slow down on the roads

The family of James Moyles, a 33-year-old Ballina man who was killed after he was struck by a car on a pedestrian crossing, have called on road users to be more vigilant on the roads.

In a statement issued by the solicitors of the Moyles family following the sentencing of Keith O'Brien at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, the family stated that their hearts are broken and their loss immeasurable by the death of James. They said he died in the heroic act of saving the life of another and it was their wish that his legacy will be to save further lives on Irish roads.

“Today the family call on all the stakeholders to take action to tackle the continuing unacceptable levels of road deaths in Ireland. They call upon all road users to be extra vigilant of pedestrians and all vulnerable road users. We all have a shared responsibility to ensure each other's safety.

“James was one of 174 people who died on Irish roads in 2024. Since then and to date a further 138 people have lost their lives on Irish roads. 312 people in 22 months. These are not just numbers, they are real people gone forever leaving lives shattered unnecessarily. Enough is enough – its time for change,” the statement read.

Since the death of James the family have sought that speed ramps be installed on the road where he died so no other family will go through the pain they are feeling.

READ MORE: Judge pays tribute to Mayo man whose actions saved the life of four-year-old niece

Devastating impact

Earlier Seamus Hyland, an uncle of James Moyles, read a lengthy victim impact statement to the court where he outlined how the death of James has had a devastating impact on all of the family from his parents Michael and Ann to his siblings and young nieces.

He said James was the oldest of five children who enjoyed a close bond with his parents and siblings and an integral part of the family who never gave his parents any trouble or hurt anyone.

James worked with St Vincent de Paul in Ballina and Mr Hyland explained that since his death the family have been informed of random acts of kindness he performed and how he helped people.

The incident on Lord Edward Street occurred close to the Moyles home and Mr Hyland said that members of the family including his parents witnessed the horrific aftermath of the accident.

When the family were told James would not make it, Mr Hyland said they agreed that his organs would be donated to help save the lives of others. However, due to the injuries James received, the organs were so badly damaged that they could not be used.

Mr Hyland said the Moyles family have suffered a major upheaval to their lives following the loss of James and they experienced feelings of shock, anger, grief and even grief.

He said James was very close to his mother Ann and he was her constant companion and she still expects him to come through the door.

“She is angry that her son has been taken away from her so needlessly. She thinks that drivers need to cop on and stop speeding on that road and she despairs that many drivers are still speeding on the same road despite all that has happened,” he said.

Mr Hyland said that James' father Michael misses him more as time goes by and the simple things like a chat when he comes home from work. He added he finds it hard to sleep at night as his mind brings him back to the scene of the accident.

Big brother

The court was told that James was like a big brother to his nieces and they found it hard to cope that he had died.

Mr Hyland said the family would like to thank An Garda Siochána and the emergency services who attended the scene and to neighbours and friends for their support.

“James' death has left a permanent void in the Moyles family which can never be filled and they feel that this is an avoidable cross that they are now having to bear.

“Sometimes it feels like a nightmare and you expect that you will wake up from the nightmare and James will walk in the door, but he never does, and he never will and this is a great loss, the reality is we will never see James again.

“The loss of James and its effect is something that will never diminish. They as a family are doing their best to get on with life but there is a huge gap left behind without James. This is compounded by the realisation that James is gone at only 33 years of age and he will miss out on a lifetime of opportunities and experiences. The world is a lesser place without James Moyles in it,” the victim impact statement concluded.