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Mark hopes that photos of his injuries will encourage drivers to take more care of cyclists |
Hit-and-run victim told he may never walk again
Family of injured cyclist urge ‘callous’ driver to come forward
A HIT-AND-RUN driver who nearly killed a champion cyclist should search his soul and hand himself in, the injured man’s family said last night (Thursday).
Mark O’Neill, a promising triathlete, was left for dead after the accident in Petherton Road, Highbury, by the junction with Green Lanes, as he cycled home at 10.35pm on Thursday, April 5.
Mr O’Neill suffered serious head injuries and a broken neck and spine.
A dark-coloured “4x4-type” car smashed into the father-of-two and left him in the road with paralysing injuries.
Mr O’Neill was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where doctors say he will probably never walk again.
Surgeons initially told his partner of 16 years, Paula Godfrey, that he could die as a result of the injuries. His condition was so bad that nurses dared not move him between wards.
Mr O’Neill, manager of Farringdon recycling firm ECT, has only just regained the power of speech and has to talk through a tracheotomy valve in his throat.
Ms Godfrey, 34, an occupational therapist, said: “I can’t imagine the sort of person who could do something like this to another human being.
“Someone who does that knowingly has to be fairly callous. We don’t want this person to destroy any other families. They should come forward and take responsibility for their actions.”
Mr O’Neill’s sister, Clare, a 23-year-old nursing student, said: “It’s been a big trauma and obviously Mark doesn’t remember anything. His memory goes back as far as last weekend.
“We’ve been told it is unlikely he will regain mobility in his legs. It is unlikely he will walk again.
“I would say to the driver that the effects on us and the wider implications of their actions have made life incredibly hard for Mark and his family.”
Mr O’Neill has won a number of bike races and loved competing in triathlons. Last year he tackled part of the route followed by Tour de France cyclists.
He cycled every day from his workplace in Farringdon to his home in Wood Green. He has two children with Ms Godfrey, Martha, 3, and Charlie, 16 months.
Mr O’Neill hopes that publishing photographs of him in his hospital bed will make motorists drive carefully near cyclists.
Police, who have told the family that resources “are limited”, hope publicity will shame the driver into coming forward.
Officers admit there is little evidence to go on. The only witness was unable to give a positive identification of the vehicle involved and there is no CCTV.
The case has been handed to the Traffic Serious Casework Unit, where staff are sifting through huge lists of 4x4 owners in the area.
Caseworker Lindsay Curd said: “I would urge any garages that have fixed a 4x4-type vehicle that has been involved in an accident or has any marks on it, however small, to contact us.
“Also, anyone’s neighbour who has spotted such a vehicle with scratches or any marks should come forward. Whatever it is, we will follow it up.”
Anyone with information, should call Ms Curd on 020 7230 1745.
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