A 33-year-old man who sacrificed his life in saving his six-year old niece, Croia, by pushing her out of the path of an oncoming vehicle was described a “hero” at an inquest this morning.
James Moyles (33), Mount Assumpta, Ballina, died at Mayo University Hospital last February from injuries received earlier in a traffic accident
The inquest into his death was opened and adjourned this morning by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Pat O’Connor.
Evidence was given to the brief hearing by Sergeant Stephen Kenny, reading from a statement prepared by his colleague Garda Nicholas Freyne, that Mr. Moyles, who was single, died in the intensive care unit of Mayo University Hospital on February 22 from injuries sustained in a road accident on the previous day at Lord Edward Street, Ballina.
Mr. Moyles had been rushed by hospital by ambulance where he died despite every effort to save him.
Medical evidence was given to today’s brief hearing by Dr. Fadel Bennani, consultant pathologist, that Mr. Moyles died due to massive subarachnoid haemorrhage due to fracture of the base of the skull due to a road traffic accident.
The substantive inquest hearing into Mr. Moyles’s death was adjourned indefinitely by the coroner pending the outcome of a garda investigation
Mr. Moyles, who was single, was a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul.
His funeral Mass was told that he sacrificed his life by pushing his six-year-old niece, Croia, out of the path of an oncoming car.
Fr. Anthony Gillespie, chief celebrant of the funeral Mass, said James, without a thought for himself, saved Croia’s life.
Today, coroner O’Connor and Sergeant Sean McHale, on behalf of An Garda Siochana, echoed comments at the funeral that Mr. Moyles died a hero because of his brave and unselfish action.
