For any parent, the thought of losing a child is unimaginable.
But for César Ladeiro, that nightmare became a heartbreaking reality when his eight-year-old son, André Castro Ladeiro, was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the road.
The devastating accident happened on August 12, 2023, in Carrigaline, Co Cork, when a driver ran a red light, forever changing the lives of André’s family.
A Joyful Boy’s Life Cut Short
André, originally from Portugal, had been living in Ireland with his family since 2019.
He was a bright and happy child, full of life and kindness.
On that fateful day, he was following the rules—waiting for the pedestrian signal to turn green before crossing the street.
But in a cruel twist of fate, John Moynihan, a 62-year-old driver, failed to stop and hit André with his Ford Ranger Wildtrak.
Despite immediate medical attention, André succumbed to his injuries four days later, passing away at Temple Street Hospital in Dublin on August 16.
A Father’s Heartbreaking Testimony
During the court proceedings at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, César Ladeiro described the horrifying moment he witnessed his son’s accident.
“The bang and him disappearing. I saw it then and every day since.
No braking lights on that truck. André was just a leaf in the road for that driver,” he said, his voice heavy with grief.
His wife, Filipa, a nurse, instinctively knew how severe André’s injuries were.
“Filipa knew better than me how André was in that moment. I did not realize it until much later,” César recalled.
Paramedics rushed André to Cork University Hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery, but the extent of his injuries required a transfer to Temple Street Hospital.
Despite their best efforts, the young boy could not be saved.
A Sentence That Cannot Bring Justice
John Moynihan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
The court sentenced him to three years in prison, with one year suspended, and imposed a six-year driving ban.
Judge Dermot Sheehan acknowledged the severity of the incident, stating that Moynihan had enough time and visibility to stop but failed to do so.
“He wasn’t driving at speed, yet he drove through a red light and a pedestrian crossing.
He didn’t see what was directly in front of him, and he didn’t apply the brakes.”
While Moynihan expressed deep remorse and is said to be suffering from PTSD as a result of the crash, César and Filipa are left with a void that can never be filled.
A Brother’s Silent Pain
André’s younger brother, Tomas, who was just five years old at the time, witnessed the accident.
He had been set to start school alongside André in just a few weeks.
Filipa, speaking through tears in her victim impact statement, shared how their family now lives in constant pain.
“We live day by day, sometimes hour by hour.
There are countless days when I feel lost and just want to be close to him.
And it’s not just us—Tomas saw everything that happened. The impact on his life is unspeakable.”
Remembering André’s Light
At André’s funeral, his father spoke about the joy his son brought into their lives.
“He taught us how to live with our hearts outside our bodies, to smile every day, and to be grateful.”
Hundreds attended the service, including members of Carrigaline GAA, who provided a guard of honor.
Among the offertory gifts were André’s sports medals and a finger painting of his tiny handprints—poignant reminders of a life taken too soon.
No prison sentence, no words of remorse, and no passage of time can undo what happened that day.
But André’s family hopes that by sharing their story, they can honor his memory and ensure that no other family has to experience such a devastating loss.
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