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'He was like a wounded pup' - Mother makes emotional appeal over speed limits

Roseann Brennan’s son Jake died in June after being knocked down near his home.

THE MOTHER OF a six-year-old boy killed after being knocked down outside his home in June has made a moving appeal for a change to speed limits in housing estates in Ireland.

Roseann Brennan, whose son Jake died near his home on Lintown Grove on the outskirts of Kilkenny, was speaking on TV3′s Ireland AM programme this morning.

In an extensive and powerful interview, she described Jake’s final moments in harrowing detail, and made an impassioned case for lowering the speed limit to 20 km/h in residential areas in Ireland.

Ireland AM on TV3 Jake Brennan Six-year-old Jake Brennan, who was knocked down and killed by a car in June TV3.ie TV3.ie

Brennan, who has launched the “Jake’s Legacy” Campaign to lower speed limits and introduce mandatory speed bumps, spoke movingly about the moments after Jake was hit by a car after running out on to the road outside the family home:

The only way I can explain it is he was like a wounded little pup.
He was walking towards me, and I ran to him and we met in the middle of the road and he collapsed in my arms.
He kind of said to me, “Mammy”… It was like he thought he did something wrong and I was reassuring him that he didn’t.
He was so pale and so grey from the word go.

Ireland AM on TV3 Jake Brennan with sister Savannah Jake Brennan, who died in June, holds his baby sister Savannah. TV3.ie TV3.ie

Along with Jake’s father Christopher, Brennan at first thought Jake might only be suffering from shock, but gave an account of how they quickly realised the full, horrific extent of his injuries:

I had seen his little top had come up and I had seen the tyre mark so I begged him to lie back down…
He was kind of saying “Mammy, I don’t want to die” and I said “You’re not going to die baby, you’re not.”
I was telling him “I love you baby, I love you”, and it was like he just took one look to the left and then he just had these brown, greenish eyes and he was gone on me.”

Ireland AM on TV3 L-R: Kaelem, Christopher, Jake, Roseann and Savannah Roseann and Christopher Brennan with Jake (front and centre), Kaelem (L), and Savannah (R). TV3.ie TV3.ie

Jake Brennan was one of 23 pedestrians to be killed on Irish roads so far this year. Road deaths in general are up on last year, with 122 fatalities as of today, as compared to 117 this time 12 months ago.

In June, Road Safety Authority (RSA) CEO Moyagh Murdock told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that while road deaths in general were down over the last few years, more “vulnerable” people were being killed, in particular pedestrians.

Murdock added: “Speed is still the single biggest factor in road fatalities.”

You can watch Roseann Brennan’s extraordinary interview in full over at Ireland AM.

Read: Six-year-old boy knocked down and killed in Kilkenny housing estate>

Driver deaths are down, but “more vulnerable” road users are being killed>

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36 Comments
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    Mute Lou
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:36 PM

    While your heart goes out to the family of this little boy, I also feel for the lady who was driving. I think it’s an awful tragedy one that will live with the lady for the rest of her life.

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    Mute heisenberg
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:51 PM

    I got a ticket in America for going 20mph in a 15mph school zone, which is fair enough, I deserved it, I broke the law! My point is there’s a cop at every school at arriving and leaving time to enforce this, and I’ve also seen them in estates and entrances to parks! I’ve never seen a Garda or gatzo van at a school or in an estate here! There’s a lazy approach to setting up speed traps here, speed limits are only enforced in the same reliable spots on duel carriage ways and locals know to keep they’re guard up at these points! Better enforcement in high risk areas like schools/parks/estates and unpredictability is needed from the Garda!

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:04 PM

    Probably better to campaign for more & better enforcement of current speed limits!

    New laws are useless without enforcement

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:22 PM

    Completely

    There’s no easy one-fix solution to the problem, all sorts of things need to be looked at, from the speed limits themselves, how they are enforced, speed bumps on roads, stopping cars from parking on footpaths forcing kids and the elderly out onto the road.

    As to your point, I don’t think I have ever seen speed enforcement on the city roads in Cork (I have seen it once or twice on main roads in Dublin). Lowering the speed limit will make no difference if we don’t enforce it.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:45 PM

    Just look at the excellent Garda traffic twitter, regularly they post about catching drivers with no Tax/NCT/ insurance for 3 years!!! Hard to believe you can go 3 years without being stopped or check pointed

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    Mute Vincent F
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:47 PM

    There are speed ramps in estate I live in and I never go over 30km, much less if I see kids that have potential to run out in front if car (all they see is a ball running of the green bit the road) yet I see fools driving at speed between Ramps to save 15 seconds to get home!!! Not sure if a 20km sign will slow them.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:14 PM

    Mary, I can’t help but agree with you. Appearing on all these media, and handing out blame to all and sundry, is very convenient. This lady and her family have suffered a terrible loss. They should take the time to come to terms with it before seeking to be media personalities.

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    Mute zebadie
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:46 PM

    A child has died due to an accident that no one would want to be involved in. The pain is felt by all. No one should be judgemental.

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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:10 PM

    I normally have something smart to say … But the thoughts of seeing my son walk towards me like that turn gray and pass away I my arm is probably the worst thought I could ever have there is absolutely nothing and I mean nothing I wouldn’t rather go through than that and to be honest I would rather die than have to experience that . If this lady regardless of what people are saying here saves just one life from an awareness campaign then it is worth it , worth far more than all the other campaigns I see people striking up on here and else where . Speeding in estates is a major issue , it’s not about legislation ,laws Or enforcement its about awareness . This WILL happen again and again and I wouldn’t even dream of wishing this on anyone . People have mentioned boy racers in this comment section , I can honestly say in the majority of cases they are not the issue and as these accidents have proven the issue is with delivery drivers , people rushing home from work , and I can say for sure anytime soon you can add bin trucks to that list of accidents reversing through estates flat out . Speaking out regardless of greif driven or not is the most worthy cause I’ve seen on here , I cant remember the last time I’ve ever cried through family funnerals losing my father and what not but just the thoughts of this happening to my son has me on the verge of tears . SLOW DOWN and have some respect for other peoples lives and show the same respect you would want others to show your family and kids when driving in an estate

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:10 PM

    Heartbreaking read.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:11 PM

    Find her podcast from today fm it is incredibly difficult listening, you can almost feel her pain coming through the radio

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    Mute Fatima Murtaza
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:21 PM

    My son just turned 6 and is out playing in the communal garden with the neighbourhood kids nearly all day since weather got warm. The neighbours are careful cuz its all our kids out there but cant guarantee a visitor. Cant even imagine what the family is going through. My sincere prayers are with them.

    I agree on mandatory speed bumps!

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    Mute Niamh Byrne
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:29 PM

    I agree too. This poor family. Really heartbreaking stuff. I’m sure she feels so desperate and helpless that at least if there was a new speed limit in estates then the least she can hope is that no family will have to go through what she is going through. I had a polite word with one of my neighbours last wk to ask him to slow down coming into the estate, he went mad, got very aggressive with me. And as has been said, some ppl will just disregard the limit but at least it will be there and can be legally enforced if necessary. Very sad.

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    Mute Andrew Potts
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:33 PM

    Too many drivers drive to fast for busy streets that have access to homes, shops, schools and many people.
    Maybe it’s time to introduce GPS speed limiters such as the ones in the Google cars.

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    Mute Scarr
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:33 PM

    The problem is that we’re very good at making laws in Ireland, not so good at enforcing them.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:38 PM

    The problem with speed bumps is that they also slow down emergency vehicles when time can be critical in getting to a casualty or getting them to hospital. Imagine the problems of moving a patient with spinal injuries to hospital whilst also negotiating speed bumps, even in hospitals they keep an internal road clear of bumps for ambulances

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:58 PM

    @niamh. well done for speaking to your neighbour. Imagine him going mad, selfish B. No consideration for the safety of others. I actually took to standing in the middle of the road when I saw a car approaching fast and when they slowed enough to see eye to eye I sauntered off . It was my protest because of the danger to all the children that lived in that estate who could run out at any minute between the parked cars! I think the answer to the problem us ramps plus concerned residents doing something about it like you and I did. We have to take charge!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Aug 12th 2014, 3:13 PM

    Having driven in rural Ireland, specifically the Midlands Inhave to say that most Irish drivers, particular,y the younger ones ignore speed limits. They tailgate and overtake near bends and have no idea that wet roads have less grip than when they are dry, pretty obvious really.Add to this that in the Midlands you often have stone walls on each side of the road and you dont survive an impact with these. The only wat to cut road deaths is to have more traffic units, they are almost invisible outside Dublin. These speed cameras are just to collect cash, even police agree with this and once their locations are known its easy to slow down in the right places. There is only one way to tackle this and as long as the government refuse to re-open Templemore nothing will change.

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:06 PM

    I dont think anyone can tell anybody else how to grieve. If this is her way of handling the tragic death of her son, then who are we to tell her otherwise, unless of course we are professionals. If she saves one more life by being outspoken about the speed some cars are going when they are driving through built up areas, especially estates, where there are bound to be small children. I also feel so very sorry for the driver of the car but I have never heard one mention of blame for this driver. A dreadful, dreadful accident.

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:32 PM

    While I recognise the legitimacy of the #IsJakiesLifeNotEnough and indeed the Facebook campaign “Jakes Legacy” page (13,916 Likes and counting https://www.facebook.com/jakeslegacy?fref=ts) having seen a Boards.ie thread in the Kilkenny forum on same removed shortly after, in the interests of balance to the debate on all sides I alerted the Admins. I query whether those behind the page, who have the backing of Jakies parents ought have set it up in the first instance?

    The Boards thread had been set up by someone connected with the Jakes Legacy Facebook page, even if it was just a “Liker”, as it appeared on the same day (July the 7th or 11th if memory serves?) as the FB Page was set-up and until I alerted the Admins. it’d gained some traction, but it was “only” at 4 Pages.

    When it was then shared by the Jakes Legacy page on Wednesday the 6th of August it grew with new users posting on it, ostensibly from the Jakes Legacy Facebook page from the initial 4 to 6+ Pages quite rapidly.

    What I mean by querying whether the page ought to have been set up initially is this; is the 3 main tenets regarding Jakes Legacy that they are nobly aiming to achieve may not’ve even been a factor in the accident.

    My worry is that if when the inquest is heard and the coroner issues his findings/recommendations if even one of the 3 aims isn’t there, then will this compound the grief even more?

    I don’t know if those behind Jakes Legacy/#IsJakiesLifeNotEnough have a PR Firm but they could do with some advice and mine would’ve been to not start such a page until the inquest was held.

    Then by all means act on its findings to create a legacy for Jake.

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    Mute Tatjana Kytmannow
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:13 PM

    Lots of people are taking a short cut through a local housing estate in Sligo. The County Council has put up now very high speed bumps and zebra crossing with traffic lights. Result: you have to go very very slow and only very few people are taking this route as a short cut now. It makes life for the people living there so much easier and safer. I am all in favour of strict speed limits and very high speed bumps in housing estates.

    21
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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:57 PM

    Folks, one thing I’ll say here. The Inquest into Jakie Brennans death has yet to occur.

    I’ve been a jury member on a coroners court and remain on a local panel and I’m unsure if, even having posted a comment here myself prior and in addition to this one, that the comments should even be open?

    I’m after seeing & reporting one already lest it influence the outcome of the inquest and create some bias by a jury member and influence the coroners findings and recommendations?

    19
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    Mute Alan Stubbs
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    Aug 12th 2014, 4:00 PM

    Speed calming, enforceable reduction in speed limits are all measures to improve road safety. However, in my view one of the most effective is education. There are a number of specific plays and workshops aimed at primary and secondary schools to promote road safety. The message is similar throughout, take care on roads as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver. This is aimed both at children and parents/adults. There is no one fix to suit all, some initiatives work to improve Road safety some don’t, but in general road safety in Ireland has improved, but one death is too much and more needs to be done!

    16
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