Sister of man killed in hit and run tells driver in court: 'You left my brother to die like a dog'

David Raleigh

The sister of a man killed by a disqualified driver in a hit-and-run told the defendant in court: “You left my brother to die like a dog in the road.”

Aine Forde told the sentencing hearing of Traveller man, Danny Connors, (30), who killed her brother James Forde, (56), that her brother was “the absolute opposite” of him.

Connors (30), Clondrinagh Halting Site, ran a red light and ploughed into Mr Forde who had been lawfully walking across a pedestrian crossing, at Ennis Road, Limerick, on November 26th, 2024.

Connors, who was banned from driving at the time, had 120 previous convictions, and had consumed cannabis before he got into his car and drove dangerously along the Ennis Road.

Moments before the fatal hit and run, which occurred around 2pm in the afternoon, Connors failed to stop at a stop sign and drove on the wrong side of the road, forcing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid his erratic driving.

Mr Forde had pressed the pedestrian push button at the traffic lights pedestrian crossing, and after being prompted by the “green man”, he was halfway on the crossing when Connors struck him sending him into the air, killing him.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan told the sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court: “The collision cast Mr Forde into the air, he fell heavily on his head, he remained lifeless on the roadway.”

Mr O’Sullivan said: “Mr Forde was struck violently, he went airborne in a cartwheel. Mr Connors fled the scene at speed, he neither stopped or offered assistance.”

Mr O’Sullivan said that a motorist, who had been travelling directly behind Connors, told gardai that Connors “didn't break until he was on top of the pedestrian”.

Members of Mr Forde’s family left the court in tears as dash cam footage of the fatal hit and run was played.

Mr O’Sullivan told the court: “Mr Connors doesn't stop for the red light at the pedestrian crossing, and he collides with Mr Forde who was lawfully crossing the road.”

He said Mr Forde suffered a “traumatic brain injury and was pronounced dead later the same day”.

Garda Dermot Hallett, Divisional Roads Policing Unit, gave evidence of “good driving conditions at the time”.

Connors pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death; two counts of dangerous driving; driving without insurance; driving without a licence; failing to offer assistance at the scene; failing to remain at the scene intending to escape civil or criminal inability

Aine Forde told the court that her brother’s "violent and untimely death," would haunt her family forever.

Looking directly at Connors sitting in the dock, Ms Forde said: “You left him to die like a dog in the road. We bitterly regret that James ever crossed paths with someone like you, the absolute opposite of everything he was”.

Ms Forde said that her late brother and his nine other siblings were raised “to respect the law” by their mother Anne (80s) and late father Joe, a member of An Garda Siochana.

“Not just the law, but the rules. That is evident in the final moments of James’s life, as he pressed the button and waited for the green light to cross.”

Ms Forde said her bother was “kind and gentle” and he had lived with their elderly mother, who was present in court.

“We miss his happy presence, it is hard to speak publicly about the seismic impact of his death on us - we suffer every day, it is a physical pain,” Ms Forde said.

After fleeing the scene, Connors went directly to his home where he parked his car.

Following his arrest, Connors told gardai: “I’m heart-broken for that man and his family, he did nothing wrong and I killed him, I wish it had been me instead of him.”

Connors barrister, senior counsel, Mark Nicholas, told the court it was an “enormous tragedy”.

Mr Nicholas asked judge Colin Daly to, as part of his sentencing, take into consideration that Connors had come before the court on a signed guilty plea, meaning there was no requirement of a trial, a book of evidence, or witnesses to attend court.

Mr Nicholas said Connors’s guilty plea was an admission and awareness of the consequences of his “disgraceful” actions.

“While he left the scene, his parking of the car at his home place is indicative of panic - he panicked which is an explanation, not an excuse,” Mr Nicholas said.

The barrister said the defendant has five children, including two who have special needs, and that he plays an important role in parenting them.

Judge Daly said he had “a lot to consider" and adjourned sentencing to 2026.