Father of cyclist (14) injured in hit-and-run urges driver to come forward

The father of the 14-year-old boy who was seriously injured by a hit and run driver in Dublin has appealed to the driver to come forward.

Sean O'Reilly was struck by a car at about 8.50pm on Cheeverstown Road in Tallaght on Sunday and was taken to Crumlin Children's Hospital. On Monday he underwent nine hours of surgery on his leg and elbow and on Tuesday he had surgery on his forehead.

If the driver had “some morals” and could see “the state they left my son in”, he would take responsibility for the incident, said John O’ Reilly, Sean’s father, on Wednesday.

He told The Irish Times his son had suffered extensive injuries including a broken skull, fractured bones in his face, broken legs and a fractured neck. Mr O'Reilly said his son had responded well to the surgery but he had a long road to recovery ahead of him.

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He described how his son was distraught and upset when he woke from the first round of surgery early on Tuesday morning. “He’s going through so many different stages. One minute he’s laughing and joking, the next he’ll be crying and upset and asking how long he’s going to be in hospital. He asks if he’ll play football or cycle again.”

Mr O'Reilly said his son, who is due to sit his Junior Cert in June, was cycling home to Fettercairn from a friend's house in Jobstown when he was hit by the car. He only discovered his son had been injured when he called his mobile phone at 9pm and a passer-by at the scene picked up.

“He was awake when I reached the accident site and was screaming and in a lot of pain.”

He said his son’s surgeries on Monday and Tuesday had been successful but that Sean will walk with a halo brace on his leg for three months and will have a large scar on his forehead.

“I don’t really want to think about what happened, I’m just annoyed and upset. I’d rather focus on Sean and make sure he gets better.

“It’s a feeling of mixed emotions; hurt, annoyance, desperation to find out who did this and desperate for Sean to pull through and make sure he’s ok. He has a long road ahead of him.”

Mr O’Reilly said his son was a safe cyclist who used his bike a lot. “He’s always been safe on his bike and he had lights on and everything. I’d ask anyone with information to contact the guards. Just imagine it was your own son, look at it in that way. The driver needs to come forward.”

Gardaí have confirmed the car which left the scene was a black Saab 93, said Mr O’Reilly.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda station on 01- 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.