Heartbroken mum blasts hit-&-run driver for leaving teen son ‘on road to die alone’ as family left in ‘dark desolation’
THE mother of a teenager killed in a hit-and-run collision has described the “dark desolation” felt by her family at the barbaric way her son was treated when he was “at his most vulnerable.”
Marin Silaghi, 41, a Romanian national with an address in Ballybrittas, Co Laois was convicted of four offences related to a hit-and-run incident following a jury trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court last month.
Kedagh Moore, 16, was fatally injured as a result of the collision some 250 metres from his home at Graigues, Robertstown, Co Kildare while he was walking on the R403 Allenwood-Prosperous road at around 12.40am on November 10, 2024.
The jury of six women and six men found Silaghi guilty of failing to stop and keep his vehicle as well as failing to offer assistance at the scene of the crash with the intention of evading criminal and/or civil liability.
They also found the accused guilty of driving a vehicle which he knew or ought to have known was dangerously defective.
At a sentencing hearing, Kedagh’s mother, Glenda Moore, told the court of the “utter devastation” her family experienced at the “extreme cruelty of driving away leaving our child face-down on the road to die alone.”
Ms Moore said Silaghi had shown no remorse and had made no apology for the choices he had made which had “dehumanised” her child.
She described his actions as “a violation and self-serving exploitation of my child’s dignity and value.”
In a strongly-worded victim impact statement which lasted over 40 minutes, Ms Moore said her belief in humanity had been shattered by what had happened to her son.
She told Judge Elva Duffy that the impact of Silaghi’s actions was “immeasurable and infinite.”
Her husband, John Moore, gave evidence that their grief and loss was “more profound than words can describe.”
Judge Duffy remanded Silaghi in custody and adjourned finalisation of the case to a sitting of the court next week.
The court heard that the offences carry a maximum prison term of 10 years and/or a fine of €20,000.
