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THE FAMILY OF a 12-year-old boy killed in an accident involving a sulky car on a public road say they hope new regulations can prevent further loss of life.
Sean Doyle (12) sustained catastrophic injuries after he was thrown from a sulky car beneath the axles of an oncoming truck. He was one of three passengers on the sulky when the accident happened at St Cuthbert’s Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 26 February 2016.
The jury of an inquest into Sean’s death recommended the introduction of by-laws specifically relating to the regulation and safety considerations of the use of sulky cars on public roads.
“I just hope no other child is lost in these circumstances,” the child’s mother Stacey Doyle said following an inquest in her son’s death.
“Sean was an amazing boy. He was the heart of our family, we miss him so much. He was full of life and fun and divilment and everyone loved him,” his grandmother Mary Doyle said.
We are so glad of these recommendations, there is absolutely no way any child should be out on a sulky.
Sean’s best friend had received a sulky car for his horse Rambo as a gift for Christmas. The friend was ten years old. Cherie Smith said her son was allowed to drive it around the yard but not on the public road. “They were best friends. They were both mad into the horses,” she said.
Sean’s friend was holding the reins when the horse bolted across St Cuthbert’s Road. The sukly car collided with an oncoming truck. The tubular steel shaft connecting the cart to the horse’s harness snapped and Sean was thrown beneath the lorry.
“The truck made a weird noise like it was letting air out and Rambo went to the opposite side of the road, he got a fright. The back of the truck hit us and I went up in the air and hit the ground. Sean was on the ground,” he said.
Truck driver John Pouch, a local authority worker said there was nothing he could have done to avoid the collision. “The horse just shot across the road and hit the truck behind the cab,” he said.
PSV Inspector Garda David O’Brien described the sulky as a man-made cart on a tubular steel axle with no seat belts or side-guards.
“It’s not a vehicle that should be used on a public highway,” he said. Sean Doyle, from Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was severe head injuries.
The truck was travelling well below the 50km/h speed limit, the inquest heard. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions but no charges were brought.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
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“Introduce regulations and safety concerns for the use of sulky carts on public roads”?? They should be banned outright on public roads. This isn’t the 1800s ffs.
@Dj: but its part of their culture!. What about what that lorry driver has to live with . The death of a young boy. Outright ban on sulky being driven on roads. Look at what they did on the mallow road. Lucky there was no fatalities that day.
@Dj:
PSV Inspector Garda David O’Brien described the sulky as a man-made cart on a tubular steel axle with no seat belts or side-guards.
“It’s not a vehicle that should be used on a public highway,” he said.
Which of course they shouldn’t be but nothing will happen. The ISPCA has been calling for a ban year after year as horse after horse has been killed racing.
Absolute disgrace the racing and sulky cars are still allowed.
@Kenneth O Brien: Then i apologise for that. But a law should be passed … no sulky or horses on any road. I see young fellows on these sulky and it does not take much to spook these scrawny under nourished ponies. Young lads cant control them . Enough is enough . Ban Ban Ban
@Dave barrett: I agree with u that they should be banned 100% and I see them all the time aswell it’s worse when it’s dark and they don’t even have a reflector on the thing
Sulky racing should be banned on public roads….At present Gardai seem to turn a blind eye….Very cruel on the horses to run on tarmac painful on their feet….It is a animal welfare issue as well as a road safety issue….
@John003: they are very dangerous and often carry several individuals, usually children.
@Frainc Ó Broin: no doubt they will sue the truck driver for thousands for the horse bolting .
The laws regarding owning an acre of land per horse badly need to be enforced as well as having your animal micro chipped
Sulkys should be no way near any traffic whatsoever , very sad for the young lad and his family ! It is an interest for kids with horses, so maybe tracks could be set up around the country with safety barriers ? Something like they have in Spain .
It doesn’t matter if sulkies are banned from the roads, it’s their culture boss and they’ll still do it and the spineless guardai will still turn a blind eye to this and of coarse all the other illegal activities that this ethnic group gets away with.
@John O’Regan: the Gardai know that if it goes to court the law will go in culture favour Perhaps we should ask the judges about their decisions & attractive payouts , the payout are in the judges culture .
@Windy Atlantic Way: but I’m sure the guards have the power to confiscate these sulkies if and when they see them on the roads as is the case when they catch a driver without any NCT tax or insurance so I’m sorry but the guards are not doing enough to tackle this.
@John O’Regan: you do know this child wasn’t a traveller? and your knee jerk ‘ culture boss ‘ comment is not only disgusting but is ill informed and grossly insensitive.
What are the Gardai supposed to do chase these fellas and if there is an accident Gardai are at fault. Children should never be in these yokes and should be banned altogether on public property.
Sad , very sad.
@Namanick Jasper: reported your disgusting comment. Shame on you.
very sad only a kid aswell
A sulky CAR? A car? Ban them all off the roads, zero regulation
This is a barbaric activity carried out by kids who have no respect for their own precious lives never mind that of the poor animals subjected to their cruelty.
@Geralyn Early: not just by kids. Plenty of adults partake in this barbaric activity.
Sulky racing is a noble tradition enjoyed by travelling and buffer alike. It should be protected. No more ‘scrimination.
@Mack DaKnack: What’s a “buffer”?
@Billy McNamara: settled folk billy. Ffs ye buffer
@Tony Dowling:
Sounds like a racist comment
Owning a horse is expensive and unless the owner can show documentary evidence of its care it should be removed from said owner .
Horses and carts may be allowed on the road – but racing vehicles (and I’m including carts in that) on the public road is probably illegal in all cases.
Sulkies, horseback riders and pedestrians have been around since long before the internal combustion engine. When the motor car became more prominent little or no accommodation was made for traditional travel methods. I agree that pedestrians and horses shouldn’t be mixed on the roads with cars and trucks but what arrangements were made for the traditional road user when roads became more dangerous as speed and traffic volume increased? Why should progress take place only at the expense of traditional means of travel? Surely all should be accommodated! The rules of the road give extra protection to pedestrians and people in charge of animals over motorists but local authority and NRA road development has excluded them from access to the roads without providing them with a viable alternative. When incompatible transport is mixed danger will exist.
@Larry Kavanagh: I would never have looked at it that way. Very good point!
Rest in peace to the young boy, and condolence to his family, also to family of truck driver. Think we all in agreement that sulky racing should be banned for safety and welfare of horses.Ia family have lost their child, regardless of the rights of wrongs.
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