Neighbour of six-year-old Derry boy killed in accident calls for traffic calming

By Ursula Duddy

The neighbour of a six-year-old Derry boy killed in a tragic road accident, whose daughter was his playmate, has called for signage and traffic calming measures in the area.

Little Donnacadh Maguire, known affectionately as ‘Donny’ to family and friends, died on Tuesday morning after being discovered with severe injuries. It is believed he was struck by a car as he played outside his Tyrconnell Street home.

A man was arrested later that day and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Declan McBride, a neighbour whose seven-year-old daughter, Myia, was a playmate of little Donny’s, said he believes traffic calming measures or signage warning there are children at play need to be introduced in the area to avoid further tragedies.

He described how he had been given the ‘thumbs-up’ by little Donny just minutes before the fatal accident.

“I looked out the window and he was doing press-ups in the street, I was actually impressed at him doing proper press-ups, then like any wee six-year-old, he was getting carried away with his imagination, doing karate moves and roundhouse kicks.

“I waved out at him and he gave me the thumbs-up. He was such a good wee fella; he played with my daughter, Myia. She was good friends with him and she’s taking it hard, she just can’t believe he’s gone.”

Mr McBride said that he had been getting ready to go out when he and his wife heard a ‘commotion’ in the street.

“We ran out and we saw that his mother had him in her arms and she was just screaming,” he said.

“There were three or four boys there trying to work with him and a neighbour on the phone to the ambulance. It was just the most awful thing to see.

“He was just six-years-old, he was waiting for his whole life to start and in just a second he was gone. He was just out in the street waiting for his wee friends to come out and play. It’s so tragic.”

Mr McLaughlin said that local people are aware that children play in the area but some motorists drive at speed down their road.

He said that signage or speed bumps in the area would reduce speed and prevent further tragedy. He referred to the death of two-year-old, Ronan McGavigan, from the nearby Lone Moor Road, who died after he was struck by a car while running to fetch a ball almost a year ago to the day.

“We know there are kids playing in the streets so neighbours drive slowly in this area,” he said.

“But now and again there are people that speed up and down these roads and this time last year there was another tragic accident on the Lone Moore Road.

“Even if we had speed bumps or signposting to give drivers a bit of a warning it could prevent any further tragedies. This is summer and there are children out playing and this was one accident that had the worst possible outcome.

“The whole neighbourhood is just in shock.”

The independent councillor for the area, Sean Carr, said that there was a deep sense of shock in the community.

“It’s just terrible, and for the community to suffer the tragic loss of another young child after the loss of Ronan McGavigan has plunged the people of this area into grief again,” he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.”