HIT-and-run victim Michael Farrelly’s brother has told how he wants the killer driver to be prosecuted, insisting: “My brother is dead and someone should be held accountable.”
And as Gardai prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions over the tragic death of his older sibling, Conor Farrelly, 33, last night declared he “deserves justice”.
Mikey Farrelly’s brother Conor told how he wants the killer driver to be prosecuted[/caption]
Conor Farrelly spoke to the Irish Sun’s Stephen Breen about the loss of his ‘wonderful’ brother[/caption]
The shocking incident, which has left Mikey’s family reeling, occurred on July 17, 2024 just after midnight[/caption]
Musician Michael, 40, known as Mikey, was killed when he was struck by a stolen vehicle travelling at 130kph on Coast Road, Baldoyle, just after midnight on July 17, 2024.
He was just 50 yards from the entrance to his estate when he was struck by the Hyundai Kona.
The teenage driver of the vehicle — suspected of being a member of the ‘Lucky Dip’ burglary gang — failed to stay at the scene.
The suspect — who was arrested last September and later released without charge — was on bail at the time of the hit-and-run.
Since then, the yob has been linked to numerous car thefts and burglaries across Ireland.
Videos of the suspect and his associates have also been circulated on social media, showing them speeding in residential areas.
And he was this weekend posting videos online in stolen cars.
As the Garda probe continues, Michael’s brother spoke exclusively to The Irish Sun on Sunday about his family’s ongoing torment.
Conor, from north Dublin, told us: “Mikey was a wonderful brother and he deserves justice — I don’t want him just to be a statistic.
“The person who took his life ran from the scene, showed no remorse and yet continues to steal cars — he could have helped my brother.”
He continued: “Grief is very much on hold for us — it’s impossible to process what’s happening when there is a live investigation and we’re seeing videos of these guys out doing it again.
“I don’t understand how someone can hit a human being at that speed, kill them and not stop.
“They know what they’ve done and yet they keep doing it.
“There was no decency shown to my brother — if I hit a dog I would check to see if it was OK.
“He wasn’t killed in an accident — it was a criminal act that was entirely avoidable and preventable.”
‘SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE’
Speaking about his family’s quest for justice, Conor said: “I would like to see this person charged with what he has done. At the end of day, my brother is dead and someone should be held accountable.
“I want action taken on this because we won’t be the last family to suffer. I have to be his voice now because he spent his whole life looking after me.
“I truly hope the sentence acts as a deterrent to others and also reflects the gravity of the crime.
“A completely innocent man has been robbed of a bright future.”
He added: “The devastation left behind can’t be put into words.
Whatever sentence he gets it’s incalculable to the sentence we have for the rest of our lives.
“Our family and Mikey’s friends have been left shattered — no one should have to lose their life in such a reckless and violent way.”
The hit-and-run victim’s brother also hit out at Ireland’s bail laws.
‘TERRIBLE TRAGEDY’
He said: “Had circumstances and laws been different this terrible tragedy wouldn’t have happened.
“Mikey’s death was completely avoidable because these guys shouldn’t have been out.
“We’re not the only family going through this — families have been torn apart because bail laws aren’t fit for purpose. They were out on bail for multiple thefts and their actions have real consequences.
“People are losing their lives and families are shattered in this continuous cycle. I can’t imagine the pain that our dad Philip is going through after losing his son.
“These criminals who are out on bail all the time are operating without any deterrent or consequences. Enough is enough.”
Conor continued: “How many families have to be broken apart? How many people have to die before something is done?
“We can’t tolerate this — anyone who does an offence like this should be placed in custody.
‘VIOLENT OFFENCE’
“If you hit someone at 130kph in a stolen car this is a violent offence, yet he does it repeatedly.
“What do you have to do to be classed as a violent offender?”
Conor also revealed how his brother had just completed his first album in the weeks before he was tragically killed.
He said: “Mikey’s whole life revolved around music. His life ambition was to write an album of his own music and a couple of weeks before he died he achieved his dream.
“He went into a recording studio in Drogheda and had his own music recorded. It was amazing when we look back. After years of talking about it he did it.
“We were at a family dinner last summer and he’d never played in front of us.
“He took out the guitar and sang three of the songs he’d composed.
“We were blown away and so proud — we were lucky to have experienced that. It is something we will never forget.”
Conor also told of his pain over Michael’s absence at his upcoming wedding later this year.
He revealed: “His music was beautiful. We will now use it as a celebration of his life and some of it will feature at my wedding.
It is a day I will never forget and no family should have to endure this type of experience”
“He was delighted to be my best man and was he really looking forward to it. He really wanted to be the best he could be and now unfortunately we will both miss out — this is very sad.”
Conor added: “The only reason he won’t be there is because of the actions of someone else and this makes it incredibly hard.”
As part of his interview with us, Conor also revealed how he had been made aware of the tragedy.
He explained: “I had a strange feeling when I saw there had been an incident in Baldoyle.
“I was working at home when the Gardai showed up and told us Mikey had passed away.
“It is a day I will never forget and no family should have to endure this type of experience.”
