Paralysed Westport chef urges motorists to slow down

A WESTPORT man who has been left paralysed following a motorcycle accident in May has urged motorists to slow down and not speed this Christmas time.

Well-known chef Myles O’Brien, who runs the popular Tavern Bar and Restaurant in Murrisk with his wife Ruth, suffered life-altering injuries when he crashed his motorcycle near Pontoon in May. As a result of the collision he severed his spine and now has a T1 injury which has left him paralysed from the neck down.

The 60 year old is currently rehabilitating in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. Speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) Christmas period campaign, he urged all motorists to slow down this Christmas.

“It [the accident] was one of those things that happened, and if you could turn back the clock you would and you wouldn’t make the same mistake again. It was a bit of misfortune. The road message is not about my accident, but road accidents do happen, and there are consequences from them. One of the things to stop them is to slow down for Christmas,” he told The Mayo News.

Dangerous time

FATALITIES have increased on Irish and Mayo roads in 2023. The period between Christmas and New Year is a traditionally dangerous time on the roads, and the new RSA campaign aims to encourage road users to reduce their speed and be extra cautious over the festive period.

Part of the campaign is calling on drivers in urban areas to drive at 30km per hour, highlighting how this practice will reduce the chance of death and serious injury.

Myles explained that at the time of his accident he was taking his motorcycle for a spin before the busy summer period in his restaurant. He puts what happened to him down to a mixture of inexperience, speed and bad luck.

He has not been home to Westport since the accident in May, but he is aiming to be able to spend Christmas at home with his family.

“I will hopefully get home for Christmas but it depends on being able to organise a proper care package to be able to come home. As soon as it is in place and the house is finished and I finish my rehabilitation I should be home,” he explained.

‘It is tough’

AS a result of his injuries, Myles will be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. Part of his rehabilitation programme is to prepare him to live an independent life despite his disability. He explained that his recovery journey is tough but praised all the staff in the National Rehabilitation Hospital as well as the staff in Mayo University Hospital for everything they have done for him following his accident.

“Like every journey it is tough. To go from being an able bodied person to one with a disability that I will have for the rest of my life is difficult but it is something I will have to conquer to carry on with my life.

“The great thing about the National Rehabilitation Hospital is it is such a fabulous facility that they are here to help you become the best you can be in the situation you are in.

“It is a fabulous facility. They have all the equipment to make you better and all the physios to help you improve.”

Myles also wished to thank and praise all the staff in the Tavern Bar and Restaurant for all their hard work over the busy tourism season and ensuring the business ran smoothly while he was in hospital.