The 8-year-old’s mum, Filipa, said the memorial should stand as a reminder that a “careless action can shatter an entire world”
Andrè Ladeiro(Image: rip.ie)
The heartbroken family of tragic school boy André Castro Ladeiro, who was killed two years ago when a driver failed to stop at a red light at a pedestrian crossing, have unveiled a special memorial sculpture to honour him.
André (8) died on August 16, 2023, four days after he was struck while crossing at the pedestrian crossing on the Cork Road in Carrigaline. He was out with his parents, Cesar and Filipa, and younger brother Tomas when the horror collision occurred.
The driver, John Moynihan (62) of Parkanillane, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co Cork, was jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was banned from driving for six years.
Now, Cesar and Filipa have unveiled a commissioned sculpture by artist Mick Wilkins in André’s honour on the Cork Road, near Centenary Garden in Carrigaline.
The special memorial sculpture
The sculpture, which incorporates characteristics of André into the design including André’s handprints, his date of birth, imprints of André’s bicycle wheel threads as a reminder of one of the things he loved, a child playing and smiling as the centre piece and a piece of clay placed by Andre’s younger brother Tomas where the sculpture’s heart is is designed to cast ‘the biggest shadow on the ground on the day of his anniversary.
Speaking of the memorial sculpture on Saturday, November 22, Cesar said: “Filipa and I asked for this to be commissioned in André’s honour and to be put there, where he rode for the last time, happy and free on his bike, and we are able to inaugurate it one month before André’s birthday on December 22.
“This tribute is not enough to what he gave us, but is a homage for him, a none lost memory, a mark of his passage through so many people’s lives and a testimonial to so many more – André is life. André is energy. André is theatre and dancing, thought and action, smiles,” said Cesar.
Addressing the gathered crowd for the unveiling last month, André’s parents said it is not right that any person can be subject to such fatality and so many others remain as they do, reports the Irish Mirror.
People gather for the unveiling of the new memorial
“If André’s fatality made quite a few of us, here and others around Ireland, around the world, to re-think on how they behave behind the wheel I have to say that it is not enough as the number of near misses I testimony since are outraging,” they said.
Filipa told the gathered crowd: “I stand here today with a weight I never imagined carrying. This is a moment no parent ever wants to face and honestly I did not want to be here giving this speech. It is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. But my son deserves to be honoured.
“He deserves to have his life spoken of with love, with pride and with all the gratitude I feel for the time I was lucky to have him.”
She said the memorial should stand as a reminder that a “careless action can shatter an entire world.
“It stands here so that no passerby can ignore the weight of the consequences. It stands here, hoping that awareness grows, habits change, so that no other family has to feel this depth of grief this way.”
“It is a testament to a child who mattered – deeply, fully and forever. It ensures that this place does not remain only a site of pain but becomes a site of remembrance and reflection.
“André brought light, laughter and love to everyone who knew him.”
At the unveiling, Cesar and Filipa thanked TDs, Councillors and Cork County staff for being present at the unveiling, along with family, friends and the local community as well as An Garda Siochana, First Responders, their solicitors and legal team, Carrigaline Lions Club, Tidy Towns and Carrigaline Flower Club, Carrigaline Family Support Centre, Carrigaline Court Leisure Club where André loved to swim, Carrigaline GAA, Carrigaline Taekwon-Do Club, André’s school Owenabue Educate Together, Andre’s best friends and his pals, some of whom read out poems and stories about André.
